Perceptions of a statewide nurse mentorship programme: A qualitative study

Area of Science:

• Healthcare Leadership
• Professional Development
• Qualitative Research

Background:

• Formal mentorship programs are crucial for developing leaders in healthcare.
• Recent improvements were made to a statewide nurse leader mentorship program.
• Understanding participant perceptions is key to program refinement.

Purpose of the Study:

• To evaluate participant perceptions of a formal statewide mentorship program.
• To identify the impact of program improvements on mentor and mentee experiences.

Main Methods:

• Qualitative descriptive design utilizing focus group interviews.
• Explored experiences of two cohorts of mentors and mentees.
• Constant comparison method used for thematic analysis of transcripts.

Main Results:

• Mentors reported themes of 'Giving Back,' 'Rewarding and Energizing,' 'Concrete Guidance,' 'Goal Setting,' and 'Nourishing the Mentee.'
• Mentees experienced benefits such as a 'Lifeline,' 'Moving from Reluctance to Reliance,' 'Instilled Courage,' and 'Gaining Confidence.'
• A shared theme of 'Connected for Life' emerged, highlighting lasting relationships.

Conclusions:

• The statewide mentorship program was perceived positively and effective in meeting its objectives.
• Both mentors and mentees derived significant practical and emotional benefits.
• Formal statewide mentorship programs are valuable for supporting healthcare leaders.