Perceptions of a statewide nurse mentorship programme: A qualitative study

To describe participants' perception of a formal statewide mentorship programme after changes had been made for programme improvement.

A qualitative descriptive design using focus group interviews was used to explore the experience of two cohorts of mentors and mentees, who participated in a structured, formalized nurse leader mentorship programme.

The investigators individually reviewed and analysed the transcripts and reached consensus on common themes using the constant comparison method of analysis.

Themes identified for the mentor focus group include the following: Giving Back; Rewarding and Energizing; Concrete Guidance; Not Always a Good Fit; Goal Setting; and Nourishing the Mentee. Mentee themes include the following: Lifeline for the Mentee; Moving from Reluctance to Reliance; Instilled Courage; and Gaining Confidence. A joint theme, Connected for Life, was also identified.

The experience of mentors and mentees who participated in the statewide Mentorship Program was very positive as the participants stated that the program was effective in meeting its goals. Both mentees and mentors in this study found practical and emotional benefit through their participation in this formal Mentorship Program.

Statewide mentorship programmes can be effective mechanisms to support leaders or prospective leaders in their roles in an often chaotic and challenging health care environment.