Nursing Mentorship: The Role Of Mentoring In Nursing

Nursing leadership is multifaceted, meaning there are several aspects to nursing leadership; Political, psychological, ethical, and educational (Daly, Speedy & Jackson, 2004). Staff mentoring and education in Nursing is a leadership role, whether it is a member of a health care team or as an advanced practice registered nurse (APRN), our purpose is to aid in the development of our profession and guide our fellow nurses to progress into confident, competent well-trained practitioners. Nurse mentoring and education applies to all nurses, whether new or seasoned, staff nurse or advanced practice nurse. Staff nurse retention issues have forced organizations to take a long, hard look at their education, mentoring and training methods. Retention issues, in regards to new hires and graduate nurses, may indicate the need to examine different mentoring and training modalities. Ultimately, effective communication, training, teaching and support from mentors and seasoned nurses may ensure that future nurses remain content and confident
A mentorship program can have teaching strategies and or educational courses that can help improve problem-solving skills, professional skills, and time management techniques (Chen & Low, 2014). Results from questionnaires show us that mentorship programs improve competence and career satisfaction among nurses (Chen & Low, 2014). Furthermore, mentorship programs can reduce the nursing turnover rate (Chen & Low, 2014). Another way to provide mentoring education is by using a high-fidelity simulation (HFS); this is using high-tech mannequins, programmed by computers, to create a life simulation for training purposes (Hallenbeck, 2012). Hallenbeck (2012) stated that HFS is recognized as a way for ‘‘…healthcare professionals to hone the clinical skills that are needed to provide safe care without harming patients as they develop these skills’’ (p.