Resilience Through Mentorship

Nurses new to the profession working on an Orthopedic unit at a large Midwest hospital often experience stress during the first couple of years after orientation. These new nurses may leave the profession and transfer jobs if they are not able to cope effectively. As a result, nursing retention is decreased, and the quality-of-care declines. A Resilience Through Mentorship Program (RTMP) was developed in an Orthopedic nursing unit to provide the nurses support during their first year of employment, promote retention and ultimately help nurses develop resilience. Resilience is a skill developed through experience and allows for a person to manage stressors as they arise. Additionally, by building resilience, the nurses will be able to work through their stressors and emerge stronger and more resourceful. Margaret A. Newman\u27s Health as Expanding Consciousness (HEC) was used as a theoretical guide for this mentorship program. The goal of RTMP is to help nurses build resilience by matching an experienced nurse and a new nurse completing their orientation. The mentee’s consciousness will expand as knowledge is gained through interaction and comradery. The mentee will reach new levels of consciousness as resilience is developed and they will gain confidence to meet any challenges they encountered. Surveys will be used to evaluate the success of the program. Developing resilience in new nursing staff through the RTMP will advance the individual nurse on a personal and professional level, and potentially, improve nursing retention, and has the potential to elevate the nursing profession