Mentorship and the charge nurse.

In the third part of this series on issues in ward management facing charge nurses, Jane Fox explores the crucial role of the charge nurse as mentor. An ability to emphathise with the student and a willingness to facilitate his/her personal and professional growth are described as the most important elements in the successful execution of the role. However, there are also considerable responsibilities and pressures associated with mentorship which it would be foolish to ignore. The author presents a reflective framework for use in mentorship which emphasises the positive theory while recognising the negatives of experienced reality.