An Integrative Review of Peer Mentorship Programs for Undergraduate Nursing Students

Abstract

This review provides evidence that can be used to inform the design, implementation, and evaluation of future peer mentorship programs.

Mentor Us: A Formal Mentoring Program for Nurses in Graduate Education

“…In many cases, those responsible for the implementation and management of mentorship programs within schools of nursing are faculty members (Wong et al, 2016). At first glance, this structure is sensible, because students' time in graduate school is transitional and faculty often stay for years in their appointments.…”

“…The definition of mentorship is varied depending on the context and the perspective of the participants and the intended outcome of the relationship (see American Psychological Association [APA], 2006;Wong et al, 2016;Zhang et al, 2016). For our purposes, we prefer a more traditional concept of mentorship, such as "a dyadic relationship between mentor and protégé, where the mentor draws on acquired knowledge and experience to enhance the professional and personal development of the less experienced protégé" (Tong & Kram, 2013, p. 218).…”

“…Mentorship programs foster relationships among members, help to strengthen a sense of personal and professional safety, provide academic and professional support, and promote collegial interactions (Garvey & Westlander, 2013). These are necessary features to produce not only successful graduate students but also successful nurses with advanced degrees (Wong, Stake-Doucet, Lombardo, Sanzone, & Tsimicalis, 2016). Reinforcing a sense of belonging among nurses in a graduate program is paramount to developing a professional identity; conversely, if nurses are not provided with positive socialization experiences, it can lead to dissatisfaction with their career (Goodare, 2015).…”

“…The appropriate pairing of mentors and mentees is fundamental for the success of a formal mentorship program (APA, 2006;Wong et al, 2016;Zhang et al, 2016). The founders of Mentor Us understood that for the program to be successful and sustainable, recruitment and matching of pairs were the crux of program success and built this into the development plan.…”

Research Project: The Mentoring and Development of Emotional Competence in Nursing Students

“…Mentoring facilitates when there is inadequate academic preparation, lack of social and academic resources, and anxiety in nursing students, this can reduce dropout and increase success rates for these students (Wong, Stake-Doucet, Lombardo et al, 2016). Mentors provide guidance to students and extrinsic emotional regulation, through support and discussion, these are a resource and support the management of emotions.…”