Benefits of a Nurse Mentorship: Why Nurse Educators Matter
Novice nurses who participate in a nurse mentorship program experience more confidence in
their professional development within six months of the program, according to a 2017 study by
Nurse Today. Mentorship programs are designed to encourage growth within an organization
and provide new nurses with a structured program to integrate them into their career. The
benefits of these programs also extend to the mentor, who must sharpen their skill set to
provide mentees with the necessary support.
What Is Nurse Mentorship?
Nurse mentorship is a synergetic relationship between a beginning nurse (the mentee) and a
nurse with multiple years of experience (the mentor). Nurse mentorship programs are meant to
encourage mutual professional growth between both the mentor and the mentee through a
dynamic and supportive relationship.
The role of a mentor is to provide daily guidance to their mentee and to support them in the
development of their nursing skills. This one-on-one experience should provide a safe space for
novice nurses to ask questions and learn the social and professional inner workings of their
industry. The overall goal for the mentor is to teach, coach and inspire their mentee.
There are a variety of ways in which nurses can enroll or participate in mentorship programs.
Students who are enrolled in nursing schools can develop professional relationships with
professors or nurse educators. These relationships can potentially lead to internship
opportunities. Moreover, students can ask a nursing educator or professor if they can shadow
them while they are working in the lab or the hospital. If a student is unable to connect with a
mentor or is hesitant to ask, they can contact their academic adviser to see if there are any
internships available.
Another way novice nurses can join nurse mentorship programs is through their employer. In
some healthcare facilities, the human resource department will match novice nurses with more
experienced nurses who are willing to mentor and educate them. Alternatively, novice nurses
may be allowed and encouraged to select a mentor they are comfortable with.
After a mentee is matched with a mentor, they will discuss the goals they both want to achieve
from their working relationship. If a formal mentorship program does not exist, a beginning
nurse can ask the HR department to connect them with an opportunity. They can also ask an
experienced nurse if they can shadow them. Lastly, novice nurses can connect with other
nurses online to seek further opportunities.
Why Nurse Mentorship Is Important
Novice nurses who participate in nurse mentorship programs are less likely to experience
overwhelming workplace stress. Some organizations that have instituted these programs have
experienced a “25% increase in nurse retention,” according to the Association of California
Nurse Leaders. In addition to fostering higher job satisfaction, nurse mentorship programs can
be beneficial to the financial stability of an organization. Furthermore, these programs can help
organizations identify and groom novice nurses to become leaders, which saves time and
money recruiting nurses for open senior positions.
These programs can often bring to light a novice nurse’s weaknesses and gaps in education that
can then be addressed and remedied through a productive mentee/mentor partnership. This
partnership can also help save the organization money, as less time is often spent on training
new employees. Nurses will also feel more confident in performing their job duties because
they have a mentor to call on in times of stress or uncertainty.
Both nurse educators and experienced nurses can benefit from the opportunity to become a
mentor. Mentors are responsible for teaching new nurses the policies and procedures of the
organization. Through this, mentors are able to gain further insight into the processes and
procedures that exert a positive or negative influence on daily workflow. Based on this insight,
mentors can institute new policies and procedures to manage and rework the overall workflow.
Finally, mentors can update and sharpen their own professional skills while training new
employees. There may be policies and procedures they may have overlooked, or technical skills
they may wish to hone through practice and teaching. Overall, the mentor-mentee relationship
is meant to be mutually beneficial and foster growth.
Developing Nurse Mentorship Skills
Effective nurse mentors exhibit a variety of skills that equip them to provide new nurses with
the support to excel. The key skills that make an excellent nurse mentor are knowledge of
nursing principles, communication skills, problem-solving and decision-making tactics, as well as
patience and empathy. These qualities encourage nurses to advance in their own careers and
hopefully mentor the next generations of nurses.
Knowledge of nursing: Nurse mentors must have a comprehensive knowledge of the
medical field to effectively guide their mentees. Emergency room nurses and geriatric
nurses have a different knowledge base, so novice nurses should choose a mentor with
the knowledge base that aligns with their career path.
Communication skills: Direct and open communication is necessary to develop a
productive mentorship. Mentors should feel comfortable communicating with their
mentees so they can convey organizational expectations and provide effective career
guidance.
Problem-solving/decision-making tactics: Mentors need problem-solving skills to
effectively implement decision-making tactics that in some cases can result in the life or
death of a patient. This skill set also enables mentors to develop a training system that
will prepare new nurses for the real-world demands of the job.
Patience and empathy: When working with a novice nurse, it’s important that a mentor
exhibit patience and empathy. Many new nurses are both excited and nervous to begin
their careers. It helps to remember that starting work in a new facility can be
overwhelming.
Explore a Rewarding Career as a Nurse Mentor
Nurse educators and experienced nurses can advance their careers by pursuing opportunities
to participate in nurse mentorship programs. To become leaders in the field, these
professionals should consider an advanced degree in nursing that can prepare them to become
mentors.
Duquesne University School of Nursing offers an online Master of Science in Nursing that can
prepare students to care for patients as well as diagnose and develop treatment plans.
Students who pursue this degree can choose a concentration in either Transcultural Nursing,
Forensic Nursing, and Nursing Education and Faculty Role.
Students in the Nursing Education and Faculty Role concentration can expect to conduct
research and work directly with nurse educators who will help them better understand the
evolving healthcare landscape. Students who conduct research while in school are qualified to
apply for certification as a Certified Nurse Educator granted by the National League of Nursing.
