[Processes and strategies of teaching from the experiences the tutor elicits in the apprentice]

The teaching styles adopted by the 10 nurse-tutors of the Trento Nursing School, that teach students during their practical training to elicit the experiential learning, were studied. The instruments adopted were a questionnaire and five vignettes. The nurses were asked to 'think aloud' (verbal protocol technique) and practically explain how they would have used the case presented if occurred during the practical training of one of their students. The most widely adopted style is the connection between theory and practice, while less efforts are made to support the student from the emotional point of view and to help her/him to reflect on the feelings experienced during practice. The teaching style is supportive (5 nurse-tutors) and directive (the other 5 tutors). The small sample size does not allow reasonable comparisons between novice and expert tutors. The tutor's experience in the specific ward where students have their practical training leads to the adoption of a more supportive style, to a minor use of judgements and to a deeper exploration of the students' reasoning.