Underrepresented nurses' perceptions of a mentorship program supporting their applications for advanced practice...

Area of Science:

• Nursing Education
• Workforce Diversity
• Healthcare Leadership

Background:

• The Certified Registered Nurse Anesthetists (CRNA) workforce lacks diversity, not mirroring current demographic trends.
• Addressing this disparity is crucial for equitable healthcare.
• Underrepresented groups face barriers in accessing CRNA education.

Purpose of the Study:

• To assess the effectiveness of a national mentorship program.
• To evaluate the program's impact on nurses from underrepresented backgrounds applying to CRNA programs.
• To identify key program components contributing to applicant success.

Main Methods:

• A descriptive, cross-sectional survey design was utilized.
• Convenience sampling recruited 1,133 participants.
• A 23-question survey (21 multiple-choice, 2 open-ended) gathered data.

Main Results:

• Nearly all participants (98.6%) reported high satisfaction with the mentorship program (average score 4.87/5).
• Qualitative data revealed 49 themes across nine domains from comments and 53 themes across eight domains from learning reflections.
• The program provided valuable insights and support for application processes.

Conclusions:

• The national mentorship program is an effective intervention for preparing underrepresented nurses for CRNA program applications.
• This initiative demonstrates potential for enhancing diversity within the CRNA profession.
• Further support and expansion of such programs are warranted.