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Exploring the workplace mentorship needs of new-graduate physiotherapists: a qualitative study
Andrew Lao1, Sarah Wilesmith1, Roma Forbes1
1School of Health and Rehabilitation Sciences, The University of Queensland, Brisbane, Australia.
Background:
Mentorship plays an important role in an individuals' transition into the workforce, yet little is known of new-graduates experiences of workplace mentorship. The aim of this study was to explore new-graduate physiotherapists' experiences of mentorship during their transition into professional practice in Australia.
Background:
Mentorship plays an important role in an individuals' transition into the workforce, yet little is known of new-graduates experiences of workplace mentorship. The aim of this study was to explore new-graduate physiotherapists' experiences of mentorship during their transition into professional practice in Australia.
Method:
A qualitative study with an interpretive phenomenological analytical approach was used. Semi-structured interviews of fifteen employed new-graduate physical therapists were undertaken within their first three to six months of clinical practice.
Results:
Four key themes emerged from the data: 1) Advantages of individualized mentorship; 2) Supporting the needs of professional development through mentorship; 3) Mentorship is valued by new-graduate employees; and 4) Mentorship moderates perceptions of stress and anxiety.
Conclusions:
New-graduate physiotherapists perceive workplace mentorship as a critical factor during the transition from student to clinician, which extends to the broader workplace. New-graduates place a strong value on individualized mentorship to support their professional development, which can influence self-perceived stress and anxiety and their perception of the workplace.
