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Mentoring Nurses in Political Skill to Navigate Organizational Politics
Wanda Montalvo1, Mary W Byrne2
1Weitzman Institute, Middletown, CT, USA.
Mentoring significantly enhances political skill development in nurses pursuing doctoral degrees. Key mentoring functions like advocacy and career facilitation are crucial for building this essential leadership attribute.
Area of Science:
- Nursing Leadership
- Healthcare Management
- Organizational Psychology
Background:
- The healthcare sector requires nurse leaders with advanced political acumen to navigate complex organizational dynamics.
- Limited research exists on the role of political skill in nursing leadership development.
- Future nurse leaders with Ph.D. or Doctorate of Nursing Practice (DNP) degrees need to develop political skill.
Purpose of the Study:
- To analyze the relationship between mentoring functions and the development of political skill in nurses with Ph.D. or DNP degrees.
- To identify specific mentoring aspects that contribute to enhanced political skill in aspiring nurse leaders.
- To provide evidence supporting the role of mentoring in preparing nurses for leadership roles.
Main Methods:
- Cross-sectional survey design involving 222 nurses (Ph.D. or DNP candidates/holders).
- Utilized validated instruments to measure mentoring functions and political skill.
- Analyzed data from 115 respondents (52% response rate).
Main Results:
- A significant positive correlation was found between mentoring and overall political skill.
- Mentoring functions including advocacy, career development facilitation, learning facilitation, and friendship showed significant links to political skill.
- Informal mentoring was more prevalent (62%) than formal mentoring (35%).
Conclusions:
- Mentoring is beneficial for developing political skill in nurses pursuing doctoral education.
- Specific mentoring functions directly contribute to improved political skill and networking abilities.
- This study highlights the importance of mentorship in preparing Ph.D. and DNP nurses for leadership challenges.
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