Identifying and managing underperformance in nursing students

Student nurses are the future of the profession and require high levels of commitment and skill from the registered nurses charged with mentoring and guiding them on the road to registration. Evidence suggests that mentors are failing to recognise underperformance and as such are missing opportunities to effectively manage and encourage improvement in failing students. The literature is also demonstrative of mentors failing to fail students who do not achieve requisite standards, thus allowing sub-optimal students to progress on towards registration. This article examines literature relating to effective management of underperforming students in clinical practice and the need to fail those who do not meet the required standards. The article seeks to provide mentors with an understanding of why some are ‘failing to fail’, as well as highlighting implications for skill improvement. It is the result of an ongoing local skill-improvement project. Key themes for improvement are discussed including issues of mentor confidence, early identification of underperformance, improving mentor–student relationships and the need for open, honest communication.