Interprofessional mentoring of pharmacy students in South African primary healthcare settings: nurses’ experiences

Abstract

Interprofessional mentoring, though not the traditional norm, has become necessary due to a shortage of pharmacists in primary healthcare settings, leading to professional nurses assuming mentoring responsibilities for pharmacy students. This study explored and described the experiences, challenges, and needs of professional nurses mentoring pharmacy students during their Work-Based Learning placements in primary healthcare settings in the North West province of South Africa. A qualitative, descriptive study design was used. A total of 35 professional nurses across 18 primary healthcare settings were selected using purposive sampling. Data were collected through semi-structured individual interviews and analysed using thematic analysis. Consent to conduct the study was obtained from the North-West University Health Research Ethics Committee, North West Department of Health, Dr. Kenneth Kaunda district Research committee and the primary health care facilities. Informed consent was obtained from all the participants. Data were collected by the researcher and verified by the supervisors. Measures to ensure trustworthiness included independent co-coding, member-checking, and supervisor validation of findings. The professional nurses shared their experiences and perspectives about the mentoring of pharmacy students. Three themes emerged from the interview data: (1) experiences of professional nurses mentoring pharmacy students, (2) challenges encountered during interprofessional mentoring, and (3) identified needs for effective mentoring. The results showed that while professional nurses found the students helpful in clinical activities, they also faced difficulties such as increased workload, unclear mentoring roles, language barriers, and a lack of preparation and support from the university. Many professional nurses expressed a strong willingness to support student learning but highlighted the need for formal training, better communication, and clearer guidance from the university Among the recommendations was that collaboration between the university and the professional nurses in primary healthcare facilities must be improved, equipping professional nurses with structured orientation and training for mentoring pharmacy students, and providing ongoing support and recognition for their educational contributions. Addressing these needs is critical to enhancing the quality and sustainability of interprofessional mentoring in PHC settings.