Mentor preparation: reasons for undertaking the course and expectations of the candidates

This study sought to explore the assumption that potential participants to do the English National Board Teaching and Assessing in Clinical Practice course (ENB 998) were motivated to undertake the programme by a commitment to become a mentor. Two cohorts of students (n=127) were invited to complete a specifically constructed questionnaire and the majority responded (n=115, response rate 90.6%). The results were analysed using SPSS v10 [SPSS Inc., SPSS for Windows, 1999]. The findings suggest that commitment to undertaking the role of the mentor was not the only motivator for those undertaking this programme of preparation. Fifty-eight percentage (n=67) identified enhanced job prospects as a benefit of the course. Recommendations are made that the course should not be universally required for promotion and that it be, solely, identified as a course for mentor preparation. It is also recognised that this approach requires a national movement in this area if it is to succeed.