Mentors, not assessors.

The English National Board supports the development of a mentorship scheme for Project 2000 courses. The lack of clarity regarding the role and function of mentors continues. This paper suggests that the role of mentor should be restricted to assisting, befriending, guiding, advising and counselling students, and should not incorporate the roles of supervisor, assessor, preceptor or facilitator. Some of the difficulties experienced by one college of nursing in developing such a scheme are explored.