Evaluation of a New Nurse Mentor Program

Novice nurses in a 160-bed inpatient rehabilitation hospital had a turnover rate of 32% in 2017 and 2018, despite participation in a novice nurse residency program. This quality improvement project was a 3-month process evaluation of a 1-year mentor program designed for novice nurses. The purpose of the process evaluation was to explore whether the organization had (a) successfully implemented the program as identified, (b) successfully recruited and retained participants to date, (c) maintained projected timelines, and (d) provided all participants the opportunity to provide feedback at the 3-month mark of the program. The process evaluation provided an opportunity for revisions and additions to the program prior to the start of the second cohort as well as changes for the remaining year of the first cohort (Sufian et al., 2015). The practice questions explored the results of this 3-month process evaluation and the recommendations made to the mentor coordinators. The project questions focused on the results of the process evaluation at the 3-month mark of the year-long mentorship program for the first cohort. The findings were the basis for recommendations to the mentor coordinators for continuous quality improvement. This quality improvement project followed the PDSA (plan-do-study-act) methodology. The evaluation included semi-structured interviews with 5 mentors and 5 mentees and a review of the mentor program meeting minutes. Results from the program evaluation supported the need for ongoing support of novice nurses as they transition into the practice environment. Also noted in the findings is the opportunity to engage experienced nurses and support them as they recommit to the beliefs that first brought them to the nursing profession. This project supports positive social change by promoting increased job satisfaction and commitment to the nursing profession for both new nursing graduates and experienced nurse professionals