Document Type
DNP Project
Department
School of Nursing
Date of Degree
Spring 2021
Degree
Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP)
Primary Advisor
Mercedes Echevarria DNP, APN, CNE; Brian French, RN, DNP, NPD-BC; Jennifer Curran, RN, DNP, NPD-BC
Keywords
Mentorship; newly licensed nurses
Abstract
Background: The turnover rate for newly licensed nurses is high, posing financial and resource challenges for healthcare organizations. Transition to practice programs are an effective means of supporting retention. Mentorship is a best practice within such programs as it promotes job satisfaction, professional growth and development, and retention.
Objectives: The purpose of this project was to implement and evaluate a pilot mentor program with new nurses. Outcomes were: development of a structured program, enhancement of mentees knowledge about the value of mentorship, and assessment of mentee and mentor satisfaction with the program through a final satisfaction survey.
Methods: Participants were scheduled to meet/connect at least monthly for six months. Mentees and mentors were given a relevant pre-reading article and guides to help structure the meetings/connections. Both groups were asked to complete a final satisfaction survey that measured eight items related to the mentor relationship, professional growth and development, and transition to the workplace. Surveys were conducted online.
Results: A structured mentor pilotprogram was developed and implemented. Eight mentee/mentor pairs were recruited and matched. Thirty-eight percent of mentees and mentors completed all program requirements. The satisfaction survey results for both mentees and mentors demonstrated positive outcomes in terms of satisfaction with the program and help with transition to the workplace. Mentee survey results also demonstrated that the program had a positive impact on their professional growth and development. Comments offered by participants also indicate opportunities to build more structure into the program, solidify the mentee-mentor relationship, and enhance program engagement.
Conclusions: Implementation of a mentor program during the COVID-19 pandemic was challenging for both participant recruitment and engagement. While most mentees and mentors reported a high degree of satisfaction with the professional development opportunities, others reported barriers to staying connected. These results suggest the importance of mentorship and the need to create innovative communication methods for mentor relationships as a formal mentor program is developed.
Copyright Notice
©2021 Michelle Doran. All rights reserved.
Recommended Citation
Doran, RN, DNP, NPD-BC, M. (2021). Mentorship for Newly Licensed Nurses: A Pilot Program. , (). Retrieved from https://hsrc.himmelfarb.gwu.edu/son_dnp/87
Open Access
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