The effect of mentoring on competency skills of nurses

Nurses who are new to a clinical setting require orientation programs to develop skill competencies. Orientation programs differ in length and nature. The purpose of this study is to determine the effect of mentoring on the development of competency skills. Two groups of nurses will be studied. One group will participate in a traditional orientation program without a mentoring experience, and one group will participate in a mentored orientation program. The design of the study is descriptive correlational. Benner's (1984) theory provides the theoretical framework. The sample will be 100 nurses, 50 in each group. Data will be confidential and will be collected by the Schwirian's Six-Dimensional Scale of Nursing Performance (1978). The study will be approved by Institutional Review Boards of participating institutions. Participation is voluntary. Findings of the study will help hospital educators design orientation programs for new graduates and will provide insight into the value of mentoring to new nurses.School of Nursing"December 2004."Thesis (M.S.