Mentoring matters to early‐career veterinarians' confidence, clinical growth and career retention: A qualitative interview study

Background Veterinarians in clinical practice, especially early‐career veterinarians and those identifying as women, have higher levels of negative mental health outcomes compared to the general population. Partnering with a mentor can mitigate some of the work‐related challenges that may contribute to poor mental health and career attrition. Our objectives were to understand: (1) mentee veterinarians’ expectations and experiences in mentorship relationships, (2) how gender identity affects mentees’ expectations and experiences, and (3) the role of mentorship in mental wellbeing and career retention. Methods Semi‐structured online interviews with 17 gender‐diverse early‐ to mid‐career veterinarians from various regions of Canada who had experience as mentees were analysed using template analysis. Results Participants described that the ‘safety net’ (support with clinical decision making) mentors provided helped mitigate stressful early‐career experiences and aided in retention. Most participants supported a formal, more structured and consistent mentorship practice. Women in this study more commonly valued psychosocial support and advice on work‒life balance and family challenges than participating men. Mentoring styles were identified as making or breaking the mentorship experience, and many participants described complex interpersonal dynamics, including mentor resentment and competition. Limitations Qualitative research is not generalisable, and should be considered accounting for the research context, methodology, and authors’ positionality. Conclusion This study highlights the importance of mentorship for early‐career veterinarians’ confidence, clinical growth, wellbeing and career retention, while taking into account how mentorship is delivered and by whom.