The mentoring scheme in clinical nursing involving chronic wound treatment, as an efficient tool for professional development – a study of 3 cases

Introduction
Increasing the level of knowledge and the quality of health care is crucial to upgrade the status of medical practitioners. Part of this process is the mentoring scheme. Mentoring based on a partnership approach can bring numerous benefits and undoubtedly contribute to sustaining an international trend for continuous development of nursing as an independent profession.

Aim of the study
Presentation of a mentoring programme involving professional care and local wound treatment by young trainee nurses.

Material and methods
Three persons were selected from a group of 30 patients with chronic wounds, consulted and treated within the activities of the student scientific circle. These 3 patients underwent limb amputation due to peripheral arterial disease between 2018 and 2021.

Results
Through specialist assistance and local wound treatment in 3 patients, young professionals and students supervised by an experienced clinician could broaden their knowledge concerning patient care and participate in local wound treatment using innovative methods.

Conclusions
The mentoring programme is an efficient form of education and development of young nurses. Nursing practice based on mentoring prepares students for their future work in a more professional way and at the same time teaches self-reliance and decisiveness. The mentoring programme allows for selecting leaders in the field, upgrading the status of the profession, and improving the quality of the provided care.