A Nurse Anesthesiology Mentorship Program: An Evidence-Based Project for Implementation.

Abstract

Transitioning from the role of student to the professional certified registered nurse anesthetist (CRNA), as well as a CRNA transitioning to a new job can be very difficult because of uncertainty in the new environment when compounded by a lack of social support. A formal mentorship program was developed and organized by CRNA leadership to help retain and engage new employees and ensure that they assimilate to the new culture while effectively gaining institutional knowledge and clinical skills. The mentorship program consisted of structured meetings that included the newly hired cohort of CRNAs, matched mentors, and CRNA leadership at regular intervals to foster a sense of community and professional growth. The working definition of the mentorship process for this project was described as the following: a mentor, defined as an experienced CRNA, not a direct manager, meets with the mentee, a newly hired CRNA, on a regular basis following a predetermined timeline to assess and meet the mentee's goals, to provide resources, including networking, and to provide guidance for the mentee to make the best decisions for their professional and personal growth. The purpose of this project was to explain the potential benefits of implementing a formal mentorship program for recruiting, on-boarding, and retaining CRNAs.