Personal tutoring in nursing studies: A supportive relationship experience aimed at integrating, curricular theory and professional practice

• Published in: Nurse education in practice 2019-05, Vol.37, p.81-87
• Main Authors: Roldán-Merino, Juan, Miguel-Ruiz, Dolors, Roca-Capara, Núria, Rodrigo-Pedrosa, Olga
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Action research; College students; Data Analysis; Education, Nursing - methods; Educational Environment; Female; Focus Groups; Humans; Learning; Learning Processes; Male; Meetings; Nurse Practitioners; Nursing; Nursing education; Nursing students; Objectives; Pastoral care; Peer Group; Personal development; Personal tutor; Professional development; Professional Practice; Qualitative Research; Relationship; Students, Nursing; Teaching; Teaching Methods; Theory-practice gap; Tutoring; Universities
• ISSN: 1471-5953; 1873-5223
• DOI: 10.1016/j.nepr.2019.05.005

The goal of personal tutoring is not only to guide future nurse practitioners in all aspects of their professional development in the academic context, but to support their development for nursing practice as well. The aim of this study is to explore how nursing students and personal tutors experience the process of personal tutoring. This was a qualitative study using educational action research methodology and convenience sampling, taking into account the criteria of maximum variation and theoretical saturation. Data were gathered through focus groups conducted separately with nursing students and personal tutors. The analysis revealed three categories that described the participants’ experience of personal tutoring: tutoring as a supportive relationship that includes pastoral care; the personal tutor as a professional who links theory and practice; group meetings as an opportunity for peer support and learning. Personal tutoring is perceived by students and tutors as a supportive relationship that contributes to both the personal and the professional development of future nurse practitioners. •Personal tutoring involves the accompaniment of a nursing student by a single tutor.•It is complementary to the monitoring carried out by preceptors in clinical practices.•It involves a supportive relationship that makes it easier for students to integrate theory and professional development.•The tutor needs to be an active professional with specific training in attending to the emotional needs of students.•Personal tutoring has proved to be a useful tool for reducing the gap between theory and practice in nursing education.