What are the barriers to good mentoring?

This article reports on a study exploring the barriers to successful mentoring of pre-registration nursing and midwifery students in practice, and the support required by mentors. When asked what barriers could affect the quality of mentoring provided, 70% of the 199 mentors taking part in the study cited lack of time and 67% cited conflict between the competing demands of being a mentor and providing patient care. Some 41% of the mentors received very little protected time from clinical duties to support and assess students. Mentors said they needed more protected time, help with practice assessment documentation and regular mentor updates.