Peer support: what can you learn from more experienced students?
Peer support, whether formal or informal, can provide nursing students with valuable advice and help they can’t access elsewhere. The University of East Anglia introduced a formal peer support programme, where more experienced students act as mentors, providing support and advice to new students about placements, coursework and student life. They can provide a different perspective to academic staff, giving advice on anything from how to handle a difficult placement to what shoes are best when working on the wards. A peer support programme brings advantages to both parties, such as leadership skills for the mentor and reduced anxiety for the mentee. We look at the benefits and difficulties and offer tips on how to get the most out of the relationship.
When experienced students act as mentors to other students, they can provide invaluable support and share advice on placements, coursework and student life
Peer support or mentoring offers valuable opportunities for more experienced students to guide those who are newer to their degree programmes.
By sharing their knowledge, insights and practical tips, peer mentors can help ease the transition to university life and clinical placements.
This support can boost confidence, improve academic performance and enhance the sense of community among nursing students. It’s about learning from those who have been through similar experiences and building supportive relationships that benefit everyone involved.
Peer support for nursing students: what are the benefits?
Starting a nursing degree can feel daunting. Peer support may help ease any worries by offering advice, reassurance and real-life tips from students who have recently experienced similar challenges.
It’s not just about academic help, it’s also the little things that can make a big difference. From suggestions such as which shoes are best for long shifts when you’re on placement to what to pack for your first day, peer mentors can offer practical guidance not easily found elsewhere.
Most importantly, peer mentors provide a friendly, non-judgemental listening ear – someone to talk to when things feel overwhelming – and a reminder that you’re not alone.
Peer support offers many benefits for both the mentor and the mentee. For mentors, this can include developing leadership skills and qualities, consolidating their existing knowledge and learning, and building problem-solving skills.
For mentees, the benefits can include improved academic performance and personal growth and an easier transition into higher education.
Peer support for nursing students: the benefits and opportunities
| Aspect | Peer mentor | Peer mentee |
| Academic development | Reinforces their own knowledge through guidance and support Enhances critical thinking | Gains support and direction to academic services Improves study skills |
| Professional skills | Develops leadership and communication skills Prepares for supervisory roles | Learns about professional behaviours and expectations Gains confidence |
| Personal growth | Increases self-confidence and empathy Gains a sense of fulfilment from helping others | Builds self-esteem and motivation Reduces anxiety and stress |
| Networking opportunities | Expands professional and academic networks Builds relationships across cohorts | Gains a sense of belonging Forms connections with experienced peers |
| Understanding of nursing role | Deepens understanding of the Nursing and Midwifery Council code and nursing standards Able to reflect on own practice | Learns how to apply theory to practice Understands expectations from placements |
| Career preparation | Demonstrates initiative to future employers Enhances CV and portfolio | Gains insight into future career options and encouragement to progress |
| Peer support and well-being | Creates a supportive learning environment Enhances teamworking and collaboration | Reduces feelings of isolation Provides a safe space to ask questions |
Why can’t students just be supported by academic staff?
As supportive as academic staff are, for many it has been quite some time since they were undergraduate nursing students.
The challenges facing today’s students are often shaped by the current economic and practice climate – pressures that peers studying in the same environment will understand. This is one element that makes peer mentorship especially valuable.
Advice from fellow students is not only relatable, but also practical. While academic staff may not always be available or familiar with every module or placement area, a peer mentor is likely to have been through the same course structure and assessments. Their experiences will often mirror your own, making their support relevant and reassuring.
How course leaders introduced a formal peer mentor scheme
At the University of East Anglia (UEA), we introduced a formal peer mentor scheme in the adult and children and young people’s nursing fields. This initiative was developed in response to student feedback, which highlighted feelings of uncertainty during key transition points in the course.
Students expressed a desire for additional support — not necessarily academic, but rather practical advice and guidance. We recognised that fellow students were well placed to provide this and the scheme also offered a valuable opportunity for more experienced students to develop their leadership and communication skills.
Second-year students were invited to volunteer as peer mentors for first-year students. Those interested completed a form outlining key characteristics and their reasons for wanting to become a mentor.
First-year students were then given the choice to opt in to the scheme and completed a similar form. We matched mentors and mentees based on preferences and shared characteristics that we know can influence a student’s experience in higher education — for example, mature students, students who commute and international students.
Students were introduced to their peer mentors at a ‘meet and greet’ event. This provided an opportunity to begin building relationships in a relaxed setting, and all participants received a voucher so they could have coffee and cake together on campus.
What are some of the challenges of peer support?
Peer support can present some challenges for the mentor and the mentee. For example, it can add to an already busy workload for the mentor, while the mentee may feel nervous about reaching out.
Availability to meet up may be an issue due to commitments, such as clinical placements, and there is also the possibility of a personality clash. It is important to set boundaries and manage expectations of the relationship.
| Aspect | Peer mentor | Peer mentee |
| Time management | Balancing mentoring with own academic workload and placements | Coordinating schedules with mentor |
| Knowledge gaps | Fear of giving incorrect information or advice | Risk of receiving inaccurate or incomplete information |
| Confidence issues | Lacking confidence in their ability to support others effectively | Hesitant to ask questions or appear vulnerable |
| Professional boundaries | Navigating the line between peer and professional relationship | Uncertainty about how much personal information to share |
| Motivation and engagement | Mentees may not be engaged or responsive | Mentor may not seem approachable or relatable |
| Expectations management | Feeling pressure to ‘know it all’ or solve every problem | Expecting too much from the mentor, such as academic help beyond their scope |
| Emotional impact | May feel emotionally burdened if mentee shares difficult experiences | May become too reliant on mentor for emotional support |
Other opportunities to access peer support
Outside of a formal mentor scheme, there are numerous opportunities for students to benefit from informal peer support. Student societies, particularly those linked to specific fields of study, offer valuable spaces where individuals can connect with more experienced students, share advice and seek guidance in a relaxed environment. This also helps to foster a sense of professional identity.
Another key setting for informal support is during clinical placements. It is common for students from different years or even different institutions to be placed in the same clinical areas. These interactions can provide valuable and informal opportunities to share knowledge, offer reassurance and discuss practical experiences.
There are also structured learning activities that naturally bring students from different year groups together. At UEA, we run combined simulation events and preparation sessions where more experienced students support those about to transition to the next stage of their course.
These sessions allow for open discussion in an informal setting – students can discuss their expectations, for example, which can help to reduce anxiety. The involvement of senior students in teaching also reinforces their confidence in the skills and knowledge that they have developed.
Top tips for getting the most out of peer support
- Reach out Whether you are a mentor or a mentee, do not be afraid to make the first move — even if it is just to check in. A simple message can go a long way in building a supportive relationship
- Try to meet up in person Meeting face-to-face helps break the ice. Remember, you are both nursing students and will already have things in common. Once you have met in person, it often becomes much easier to communicate and stay in touch online
- Know your boundaries It is important to establish boundaries around communication early on. For example, nobody wants an unexpected phone call at 3am. Agree on how and when you will contact each other so that both parties feel safe and respected. This role should be a supportive addition and not a burden and if it ever feels overwhelming, seek
support from staff - Be clear about the role Peer support is not a substitute for academic guidance. Mentors should not be reviewing or sharing academic work as this could breach university policies around plagiarism and collusion. Be clear about what the peer support role involves and know when to signpost to further help
- Communicate with staff If you are part of a formal mentoring scheme, it is likely that university staff are overseeing the process. Keep in touch with them —
especially if you notice recurring themes, feel unsure about how to manage a particular situation, or need additional support - RELATED: Assignment deadline: how to make sure you submit on time
What student feedback has revealed so far
We are in the process of formally evaluating the peer mentor scheme but initial feedback has been positive. Anecdotally, many mentors and mentees have developed strong and supportive relationships, and both groups have reported a range of personal, academic and professional benefits.
For mentors, the scheme has provided an opportunity to build confidence, often revealing that they know more than they had initially realised. It has also helped them develop key leadership and communication skills, while encouraging them to reflect on how they can support the learning and well-being of others.
Mentees have found the scheme equally valuable. They have been able to access quick and practical answers to everyday questions — such as what to bring to placement or how to manage multiple deadlines – which might otherwise cause anxiety.
Importantly, it has helped to reduce feelings of isolation and created a sense of security, knowing that someone is available to offer support when needed.
