The effectiveness and implementation of mentoring program for newly graduated nurses: A systematic review

Area of Science:

• Nursing
• Organizational Psychology
• Human Resources

Background:

• Newly graduated nurses face significant occupational stress due to workload and transition challenges.
• Mentoring programs are recognized as an effective strategy to support nurses during this critical period.

Purpose of the Study:

• To systematically evaluate the impact of mentoring programs on mentors, mentees, and healthcare organizations.
• Assessing the effectiveness of mentorship in nursing.

Main Methods:

• A systematic review of studies published in English or Chinese up to October 2014.
• Searches conducted across multiple major databases including Cochrane Library, Medline, Embase, and CINAHL.
• Included nine studies with methodological quality ranked as Level B.

Main Results:

• Mentoring programs effectively decrease nurse turnover rates.
• Enhanced nursing competency and improved job satisfaction were observed in mentees.
• Positive organizational outcomes, including a more supportive workforce environment, were identified.

Conclusions:

• Mentorship programs yield positive outcomes for individual nurses and healthcare organizations.
• Key components for successful programs include rigorous mentor selection and comprehensive training.
• Addressing potential barriers like time constraints is crucial for effective implementation.