2025 Theses Doctoral

Finding Meaning in Mentoring: The Lived Experiences of Bedside Nurses in the Acute Care Setting

Jie, Nicole

The literature and available studies have long attributed mentoring to the empowerment of nurses and their professional identity. When mentoring becomes part of an organization’s culture, professional identity development can improve nurse retention and patient care outcomes. Mentoring takes different forms, including formal and informal connections with experienced peers or leaders. However, variations in definitions and applications provide a meaningful opportunity to wonder about what mentoring truly is like for bedside nurses in the acute care setting.

This qualitative study used a hermeneutic phenomenological method to give insight into bedside nurses' experiences of being mentored in clinical practice. Eleven nurse leaders were interviewed about their experiences of being mentored as bedside nurses with the aim of bringing the phenomenon’s essence to light.

Findings were analyzed, and the five essential themes revealed from those shared experiences were: (a) Evolving Mentor Role, (b) Creating a Safe Space for Change, (c) Pearls in Clinical Practice, (d) Transitioning from the Nest to Flight, and (e) Honoring the Transformative Experience. The findings from this study will contribute to the body of knowledge about the experience of being mentored within the context of the nursing profession and organizational leadership.