Essential features of mentorship in nursing

Abstract

Mentorships have been accepted and utilized in the businessmen~s world for many years. In the past few years mentorships have gained popularity among women in business and in nursing. More and more articles are beginning to abpear in nursing literature regarding mentorships and the benefits gained from these relationships. No one conceptual definition of mentorship is utilized in the literature. In fact, some uses of the term mentorship contradict other conceptualizations. The purpose of this study was to determine the essential features of mentorships_ in nursing. From these essential features a conceptual definition can be constructed. Since no tool currently exists to determine those characteristics that are essential to mentorships, a tool was developed for that purpose. A six point Likert type questionnaire was developed and piloted. The pilot study gave evidence that the instrument was understandable and easily completed. Face and content validity of the instrument have been established by ~ r~view panel of four experts. The reliability coefficient alpha was computed to be .59. The instrument was administered to a randomly selected group of nurse educators and nurse managers from three different cities in Georgia (N=6~). The data analysis showed that five of the eighteen characteristics of mentorship mentioned in the literature and addressed in the instrument were considered essential features of mentorship by the sample population. Using the nonparametric Mann-Whitney U test to compare the two study groups, there was a significantly different score on three of the items in the instrument: a) appropriate for mentors and proteges to be assigned; b) mentor is essentially same as role model; and c) mentor should be more experienced than protege. From this study, a mentorship was determined to be a relationship between a more expe~ienced, successful person and his/her protege. Risk taking is inherent for both the mentor and protege, and mutual respect must exist between them. Recommertdations for further research include further testing ctnd refinement·of this instrument