Exploring registered nurses' perspectives as mentors for newly qualified nurses: a qualitative interview study.

Area of Science:

• Nursing Education
• Mentorship in Healthcare
• Professional Development

Background:

• Limited research exists on the experiences of nurse mentors.
• Most studies focus on the mentee's perspective.

Purpose of the Study:

• To explore registered nurses' experiences as mentors to newly qualified nurses.
• To understand the facilitators and challenges of the nurse mentor role.

Main Methods:

• Qualitative interview study.
• Semistructured individual interviews.
• Qualitative content analysis.

Main Results:

• Mentorship is vital for establishing safety in complex healthcare settings.
• Key themes include mentor motivation, developing learning environments, and managing obstacles.
• Mentoring contributes to the continuous development of the learning environment.

Conclusions:

• The nurse mentor role is complex but rewarding when adequately supported.
• Findings offer new insights into nurses' needs and perspectives on mentorship.
• This study contributes to improving the facilitation of mentorship in nursing practice.