Document Type
DNP Project
Department
School of Nursing
Date of Degree
Spring 2026
Degree
Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP)
Primary Advisor
Laurie Posey, Ed.D
Keywords
Mentorship; Emergency Department; Peer Support; Role Satisfaction; Emergency Department Nursing
Abstract
Background: Emergency department (ED) nurses experience high levels of burnout and turnover due to heavy assignments, boarding, and the physical and emotional demands of practice. The transition from student to practicing nurse in the ED is particularly challenging, with many new-to-practice nurses reporting decreased feelings of support following orientation.
Aims/Objectives: This DNP project aimed to plan, implement, and evaluate a peer mentorship program in the ED of a large, urban, academic Level I trauma center in the fall of 2025. The program’s impact on new-to-practice nurses’ feelings of support and role satisfaction, as well as overall participant satisfaction, was evaluated after three months.
Methods: The Academy of Medical-Surgical Nurses mentorship guide informed program development. Nurses with less than one year of experience were recruited as mentees and paired with experienced nurse mentors. Pairs met monthly to discuss transition-related topics and submitted meeting logs. Mentees completed the support and role satisfaction sections of the Casey-Fink Graduate Experience Survey pre- and post-implementation. Mean scores were analyzed using the Wilcoxon signed-rank test. All participants completed a program satisfaction survey.
Results: Sixteen mentor-mentee pairs were matched; 56.25% met three times during implementation. Satisfaction ratings exceeded benchmarks in all areas except mentees’ problem-solving abilities and perceived improvement in communication with patients and healthcare providers. No statistically significant changes were found in overall feelings of support. However, role satisfaction improved significantly in feelings of inclusion on the unit (p = .025, z = -2.236).
Conclusion: A structured ED peer mentorship program improved feelings of inclusion among new-to-practice nurses and achieved high participant satisfaction. Participants’ high overall satisfaction with the program supports the adoption of an evidence-based approach to program implementation.
Implications: The program will continue with enhanced focus on strengthening problem-solving and communication skills.
Copyright Notice
©2026 Erin Lownsbery. All rights reserved.
Recommended Citation
Lownsbery, E. (2026). Peer Support in the Emergency Department: The Impact of Mentorship on Nurses' Feelings of Support and Role Satisfaction. , (). Retrieved from https://hsrc.himmelfarb.gwu.edu/son_dnp/200
Open Access
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