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der, friend Sancho, thirty or forty hulking giants? I intend to do battle with them and slay them.’’ ‘‘What giants?’’ asked Sancho Panza. ‘‘Those you see over there,’’ replied his master, ‘‘with their long arms. Some of them have arms well nigh two leagues in length.’’ ‘‘Take care, sir,’’ cried Sancho. ‘‘Those over there are not giants but windmills.’’ During his odyssey, Don Quixote fights windmills perceiving the sails to be the arms of a giant and persistently engages in seemingly unwinnable battles. The analogy can be drawn with today’s healthcare practitioner encountering seemingly unwinnable battles between optimal care delivery, resources, quality, technology, bureaucracy and financial constraints. In going beyond mere storytelling, whatever our own interpretation, the application of Don Quixote’s knightly virtues of courage, justice, mercy, generosity, faith, nobility, hope, strength and humility to contemporary healthcare is inspirational. The symbiotic relationship between Sancho Panza and Quioxte may be viewed in terms of mentorship with the simple (novice) companion gaining experience, self knowledge and wisdom along the journey developing into protector, friend and eventually assuming the role of mentee as his learning overtakes that of his Master. The very diverse and encompassing nature of mentoring makes it a difficult role and concept to define but it is pivotal helping novices fit into systems and acquire contextually appropriate skills and knowledge (Hazelton, 1999). Thus mentorship builds relationships, enabling each professional to realise their potential. The aim of this presentation is to demonstrate how the use of reflective practice and mentorship can enhance care delivery by decreasing the theory practice gap and developing today’s practitioners as lifelong learners. |
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