The operating room as a learning arena: Nurse anaesthetist and student nurse anaesthetist perceptions

Abstract

Aim: To examine which competencies mentors and student nurse anaesthetists perceive as important in a clinical anaesthesia education practice.

Background: Mentoring during clinical placement in the operating room can be challenging from the viewpoint of both a nurse anaesthetist and their students. The operating room is a work environment with many restrictions, and the nurse anaesthetist's work requires prompt decisions and actions. Simultaneously, the mentor is tasked with guiding and supporting the student.

Method: A qualitative approach including two focus group interviews was used. The analysis was conducted using systematic text condensation. The COREQ checklist for qualitative studies was applied.

Result: The analysis yielded two main categories, including two sub-categories for each. The first, "Mentoring in the operating room," contained sub-categories "Application of knowledge and expectations" and "Mentoring experiences," and the second, "Creating a good climate for learning," contained sub-categories "Impact on mentoring: human factors" and "Impact on mentoring: obstacle factors." The mentor's knowledge of human relationships and learning strategies emerged as an important factor with the potential to influence the students' learning and self-confidence. Another valuable consideration was the ability to give constructive feedback, from the perspective of both. However, production pressure was a negative factor for effective knowledge transition.

Conclusions: The ability to give constructive feedback and having an awareness of one's own attitude-which should ideally be positive and inclusive-are crucial mentoring skills. Mutual expectations must be clearly communicated before the clinical placement period, including learning assumptions, a progression plan and learning outcomes. This will facilitate the planning and help to direct the optimal course of learning.

Implications for clinical practice: This study highlights that an awareness of the student's vulnerability and the mentor's pedagogical competence and learning strategy are crucial factors to take into account.

Keywords: Mentor competence; anaesthesia nursing; clinical placement; clinical practice; mentor role; nurse anaesthetist and student nurse anaesthetist.