Mentorship ReSPeCT Study: A Nurse Mentorship Program’s Impact on Transition to Practice and Decision to Remain in Nursing for Newly Graduated Nurses

The COVID-19 pandemic has worsened a pre-existing US nursing shortage, leaving newly graduated nurses vulnerable in their early career. This study analyzed the effectiveness of a mentorship program offering individualized mentorship through culturally congruent, customized pairing for 96 mentees. Key findings of this study show that this nursing mentorship was beneficial for the majority of mentees on their decision to remain in nursing, and on their self-confidence, problem-solving, professional communication, and transition to practice, with perceived benefits steadily increasing for mentees up to 2 years. These findings have valuable implications for innovative recruitment and retention interventions to address the nursing shortage.