Conclusion
It is essential that mentors are supported to undertake effective
mentorship by spending time with students rather than being
removed from contact with them due to organizational
pressures. Similarly, students must have their supernumerary
status respected and not be used inappropriately to fill gaps in
an under-resourced service. New UK standards to support
learning and assessment in practice (NMC 2006) mean that
40% of a student’s placement time should be spent with a
mentor, and this is a positive move to foster empowerment.
This study has revealed the importance of learning in
practice, team membership and power in relation to nursing
student empowerment-issues that have global relevance. The
cross-cultural nature of nursing student empowerment requires
further exploration, but we believe that irrespective of
the individual country in which a nursing student is educated,
exposure to clinical environments that foster empowerment,
rather than disempowerment will strengthen nursing globally
and provide a stronger profession of tomorrow.