A journey of mentoring and sponsorship excellence: A case study of a Black woman academic nurse leader's professional identity development

IF 2.8 3区医学 Q1 NURSING

Journal of Professional Nursing Pub Date : 2025-05-05 DOI:10.1016/j.profnurs.2025.05.002

Kech Iheduru-Anderson EdD, DNP, RN, CNE, CWCN

{"title":"A journey of mentoring and sponsorship excellence: A case study of a Black woman academic nurse leader's professional identity development","authors":"Kech Iheduru-Anderson EdD, DNP, RN, CNE, CWCN","doi":"10.1016/j.profnurs.2025.05.002","DOIUrl":null,"url":null,"abstract":"<div><h3>Background</h3><div>Mentorship and sponsorship are critical to the career development and advancement of academic nursing professionals, fostering leadership, scholarly productivity, and career progression. However, disparities in access to these opportunities can hinder the growth of underrepresented faculty. This study addresses how targeted support can help close these gaps.</div></div><div><h3>Purpose</h3><div>This study explored the mentoring and sponsorship experiences of Dr. Hassani, a Black woman academic nurse leader, and examined how these relationships shaped her professional identity and career advancement in nursing academia.</div></div><div><h3>Methods</h3><div>A qualitative case study design was used, drawing on a 104-min, in-depth audio-recorded interview with Dr. Hassani, supplemented by insights from one of her mentees. Data were analyzed thematically using Social Cognitive Career Theory (SCCT) as the guiding framework.</div></div><div><h3>Findings</h3><div>Four key themes were identified: definition of professional identity, early nursing career, transition to academia and emerging opportunities, and academic leadership. Findings underscore how intentional mentorship fosters identity development, while sponsorship offers critical access to leadership pathways.</div></div><div><h3>Conclusion</h3><div>Mentoring and sponsorship play a pivotal role in advancing the careers of underrepresented faculty in academic nursing. The study calls on institutions to implement equitable, identity-affirming mentorship models that support faculty retention, leadership development, and inclusive excellence.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":50077,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Professional Nursing","volume":"59 ","pages":"Pages 100-108"},"PeriodicalIF":2.8000,"publicationDate":"2025-05-05","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":"0","resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":null,"PeriodicalName":"Journal of Professional Nursing","FirstCategoryId":"3","ListUrlMain":"https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S8755722325000754","RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":null,"EPubDate":"","PubModel":"","JCR":"Q1","JCRName":"NURSING","Score":null,"Total":0}

引用次数: 0

Abstract

Background

Mentorship and sponsorship are critical to the career development and advancement of academic nursing professionals, fostering leadership, scholarly productivity, and career progression. However, disparities in access to these opportunities can hinder the growth of underrepresented faculty. This study addresses how targeted support can help close these gaps.

Purpose

This study explored the mentoring and sponsorship experiences of Dr. Hassani, a Black woman academic nurse leader, and examined how these relationships shaped her professional identity and career advancement in nursing academia.

Methods

A qualitative case study design was used, drawing on a 104-min, in-depth audio-recorded interview with Dr. Hassani, supplemented by insights from one of her mentees. Data were analyzed thematically using Social Cognitive Career Theory (SCCT) as the guiding framework.

Findings

Four key themes were identified: definition of professional identity, early nursing career, transition to academia and emerging opportunities, and academic leadership. Findings underscore how intentional mentorship fosters identity development, while sponsorship offers critical access to leadership pathways.

Conclusion

Mentoring and sponsorship play a pivotal role in advancing the careers of underrepresented faculty in academic nursing. The study calls on institutions to implement equitable, identity-affirming mentorship models that support faculty retention, leadership development, and inclusive excellence.

查看原文本刊更多论文

卓越的指导和赞助之旅：一位黑人女性学术护士长职业认同发展的案例研究

指导和赞助对学术护理专业人员的职业发展和进步至关重要，有助于培养领导能力、学术生产力和职业发展。然而，在获得这些机会方面的差距可能会阻碍代表性不足的教员的成长。本研究探讨了有针对性的支持如何有助于缩小这些差距。目的本研究探讨黑人学术护士长Hassani博士的辅导和赞助经历，并探讨这些关系如何影响她在护理学术界的职业认同和职业发展。方法采用定性案例研究设计，利用对Hassani博士的104分钟深度录音采访，并辅以她的一名学员的见解。采用社会认知职业理论（SCCT）对数据进行专题分析。研究结果确定了四个关键主题：职业身份的定义，早期护理职业，向学术界的过渡和新兴机会，以及学术领导力。研究结果强调了有意的指导如何促进身份发展，而赞助提供了通往领导途径的关键途径。结论指导和赞助在促进学术护理中代表性不足的教师的职业发展中起着关键作用。该研究呼吁各机构实施公平、认同认同的导师模式，以支持教师留任、领导力发展和包容性卓越。

本文章由计算机程序翻译，如有差异，请以英文原文为准。

求助全文

约1分钟内获得全文求助全文

来源期刊

Journal of Professional Nursing 医学-护理

CiteScore

4.80

自引率

8.00%

发文量

153

审稿时长

52 days

期刊介绍： The Journal will accept articles that focus on baccalaureate and higher degree nursing education, educational research, policy related to education, and education and practice partnerships. Reports of original work, research, reviews, insightful descriptions, and policy papers focusing on baccalaureate and graduate nursing education will be published.