Effectiveness of a nurse leader mentorship and support in the acute care setting: A program evaluation

Abstract

<p><strong>Introduction:</strong> A solution to rising nurse leader attrition may include focused mentorship into the role.&nbsp; A health system in Northeast Florida developed a nurse leader mentorship program for nurses who were new to the leader role or new to the organization during the coronavirus disease of 2019 pandemic.&nbsp; This nurse leader mentor program was designed to help new nurse leaders feel more comfortable in the role and create a relationship with a mentor. In the program, a full-time Nurse Mentor was assigned to meet with new nurse leaders periodically over the first year in their role.&nbsp; The nurse mentor program aimed to reduce burnout and increase the intent to stay in the leader role. The Nurse Leader Mentor met with each new nurse leader at least four times within the last year.&nbsp;&nbsp; This program of nurse leader mentorship had not been evaluated since its conception.&nbsp;</p> <p><strong>Methods:</strong> Data were collected from mentor meeting attendance records and a survey was sent to all leaders who participated in the program between 2021-2022.The survey incorporated the Maslach Burnout Inventory, questions to determine intent to stay in the role, and overall program satisfaction.</p> <p><strong>Results:</strong> Thirty nurse leaders completed the survey. The results did not show a significant difference between the number of meetings attended and the level of burnout or intent to stay in the role.</p> <p><strong>Conclusions:</strong> Overall, the participants were satisfied with the program and provided some valuable feedback as to how the program can improve. The program did not directly affect the level of burnout in the nurse leaders. It also did not directly affect their intention to stay in the nurse leader role. The participants did express that the program was beneficial in their overall feeling about the nurse leader role.</p>