Nurse Faculty Mentoring of Students to Optimize Student Success: A Basic Qualitative Study

Abstract

Background

The demand for practicing registered nurses outweighs the supply, resulting in a nursing shortage. Many nursing schools grapple with high attrition and low NCLEX pass rates. Mentoring is an evidence-based strategy used in post-secondary education to help students persist to graduation and pass NCLEX, which is the licensing exam in the United States. Aim: Current literature has identified a need for more research in the area of mentoring including mentoring in RN prelicensure nursing education.

Methods

Basic qualitative methodology, using semi-structured interviews, was utilized to generate an understanding of the nursing faculty mentoring role.

Results

Themes included (a) developing relationships, (b) addressing psychosocial needs- time, listening, and support, self-esteem/self-confidence (c) addressing academic needs- helping students succeed in the classroom and the clinical role, and (d) role modeling.

Conclusion

The findings support the application of mentoring practices in schools of nursing across the country with the aim of helping students succeed in nursing school and pass the licensure examinations.