Sample
All final year pre-registration nursing students enrolled on one cohort of a Diploma/BSc in Health Studies course (n = 129) received an email inviting them to participate in the questionnaire stage of the study. Although all students would have spent a very similar number of hours in the practice setting, variations would have occurred in the practice experiences of individual students and their mentors. Participation was voluntary resulting in a convenience sample. Fifty-three students completed the questionnaire (response rate = 45%).
Data analysis
Quantitative analysis was carried out using SPSS v. 19. Qualitative analysis was undertaken using the Framework Method of analysis (Ritchie and Spencer, 1994).