THE IMPACT OF MENTORSHIP PROGRAMS ON NEW GRADUATE NURSES' TRANSITION TO PRACTICE

Abstract

The professional development and orientation of newly graduated nurses (NGNs) into practice is significantly driven by mentorship. In this study, a mixed-methods design is employed to examine the perceived value and satisfaction with the Be1Support1 mentorship program. An online survey of 125 mentees contained qualitative open-ended questions as well as quantitative Likert-scale questions. The results demonstrated high satisfaction; 91.2% of the participants stated that the mentoring assisted them in professional development. Eighty-two percent of the mentees also reported greater confidence in patient care decisions, 75% better communication with others, 68% greater ability to handle crises, and 60% easier transition to independent practice. Areas for improvement were session  length, mentor-mentee matching, and flexibility of schedule. The majority of the mentees (96.8%) also preferred face-to-face meetings, indicating the value of direct interaction. Despite the fact that they also propose the necessity for continuous improvement of the programs, the findings conform to previous studies. Highlighting the necessity of flexibility in the structuring of programs, this paper demonstrates the significant impact of systematic mentoring programs on the professional training of nurses.