Exploring women's experiences: the critical relationship between nursing education, peer mentoring and female...

A research study was conducted in 1995 with seven women nurses from Southern Cross University, Australia. The aim of this research was to investigate the possible relationship between female friendship, mentoring and nursing education. The researchers comprised six second-year nursing degree students and the programme co-ordinator for the Bachelor of Nursing programme. This research was framed in an emancipatory paradigm of critical social science and feminist theory. Reflective journalising and interviewing were used as the research methods. The results indicated that there is an inextricable link between female friendship and peer mentoring. These two 'features' created a productive climate for shared learning, shared caring, reciprocity and commitment to one another's personal and professional growth.