A Quasi-Experimental Study: Mentoring for the Novice Nurse in an Acute Care Setting

Jacqueline A. Witter¹, Robert J. Manley²
(1. Bronx Lebanon Hospital, New York, USA; 2. Dowling College, Shirley, New York, USA)

Abstract: Nurses who practice in today’s healthcare environment must be experts and leaders who collaborate with other professionals in helping to address current issues and simultaneously shape reforms in the 21st century. Nurses are pivotal in the change process; newly hired nurses are expected to transition into new practice roles with a cursory orientation process and minimal support. This quasi-experimental study involved fifty medical surgical nurses from an acute care hospital in New York City (N = 25 registered nurses who were mentored, N = 25 registered nurses who were not mentored). Study participants with three years, or less, nursing experience volunteered to participate in an eight week mentorship program. Pre and post test questionnaire scores were used to compare participants with and without mentoring using identified variables. Nurses who were mentored showed significant correlation with their Willingness to Remain in the Nursing Profession on the dimensions of Clinical Decision Making, r = 0.61, p < 0.01; Commitment to Professional Nursing Standards with r = 0.48, p < 0.05; Positive Feelings about Nursing at this Hospital r = 0.75, p < 0.01. This research provided nursing faculty, hospital administrators, educators, nursing students, staff nurses with a better understanding of the importance of mentorship development for newly hired nurses.

Key words: mentoring; novice; medical surgical nurses

JEL code: 120