What question did this study set out to answer?

The study aims to identify mentoring practices and their perceived impact on new faculty in respiratory care programs.

March 14, 2026

New Faculty Mentoring in Respiratory Care Programs

Key Points

The study aims to identify mentoring practices and their perceived impact on new faculty in respiratory care programs.
Quantitative nonexperimental survey research conducted via an electronic questionnaire.
Survey included 25 items across three dimensions: mentoring practices, mentor/mentee relationships, and perceptions of mentoring impact.
Data from 126 of 410 participants were analyzed using t tests and ANOVA.
Female program directors reported greater mentoring opportunities and expectations.
Associate degree programs indicated a higher level of mentoring expectations.
Significant findings suggest mentoring positively impacts job performance, turnover, job satisfaction, and organizational commitment.

Abstract

Background:The purpose of this study was to identify current mentoring practices of new faculty members in Commission on Accreditation for Respiratory Care (CoARC) accredited respiratory care programs in the U. S. and to identify the perceptions of program directors regarding the observed impact of program mentoring practices. Methods:The methodology for the study was quantitative nonexperimental survey research. The survey instrument was an electronic questionnaire. The survey consisted of 25 items that were divided into 3 dimensions: mentoring practices, mentor/mentee relationship, and perceptions of mentoring program impact. The Institutional Review Board (IRB) at East Tennessee State University granted approval of the study. Of the 410 possible participants, 126 (30%) responded to the survey. Data from the survey were used to analyze 12 research questions and 12 null hypotheses. Six research questions were analyzed using an independent-samples t test and 6 research questions were analyzed using a one-way analysis of variance. Testing of the null hypotheses associated with the 12 research questions resulted in 3 significant findings and 9 findings that were not significant. Results:Significant findings included female program directors reported greater opportunities for mentoring within their programs and greater levels of expectations in regard to mentoring. Associate degree programs also reported a higher level of expectation in regard to mentoring. There was overwhelming agreement concerning the potential impact and benefit of new faculty mentoring on job performance, turnover, job satisfaction, and organizational commitment. Conclusions:The results of this study may benefit administrators and educators in the field of respiratory care in efforts to support new faculty in higher education who possibly feel underprepared or overwhelmed in the new role. Because other allied health fields of study are similar in nature to respiratory care, the findings of the study could have potential implications across a range of health related professions.

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