Effect of mentoring on professional values in model C clinical nurse leader graduates.

BACKGROUND: Nursing graduates acquire their nursing values by professional socialization. Mentoring is a crucial support mechanism for these novice nurses, yet little is known about the model C clinical nurse leader graduate and the effects of mentoring.

AIM: This investigation examined how mentoring affected the development of professional nursing values in the model C clinical nurse leader graduate.

METHODS: A longitudinal design was used to survey model C clinical nurse leader graduates before and after graduation to determine how different types of mentoring relationships influenced professional values. Demographic surveys documented participant characteristics and the Nurses Professional Values Scale - Revised (NPVS-R) assessed professional nursing values.

RESULTS: Mean NPVS-R scores increased after graduation for the formally mentored participants, while the NPVS-R scores decreased or remained unchanged for the other mentoring groups. However, no significant difference was found in NPVS-R scores over time (p = .092) or an interaction between the NPVS-R scores and type of mentoring relationships (p = .09).

CONCLUSION: These results suggest that model C clinical nurse leader graduate participants experiencing formal mentoring may develop professional nursing values more than their colleagues.

IMPLICATIONS FOR NURSING MANAGEMENT: Formal mentoring relationships are powerful and should be used to promote professional values for model C clinical nurse leader graduates.