Outcomes of Formal and Informal Nursing Mentorship Programs in Kenya Public Universities
Dr. Sherry Oluchina
Senior Lecturer, School of Nursing
Jomo Kenyatta University of Agriculture and Technology, Kenya
ABSTRACT
Mentorship was a one to one reciprocal nurturing relationship between a more experienced and knowledgeable mentor and a less experienced mentee. A mentor was a person who had expertise in the areas of need identified by the mentee and was able to share the wisdom in a nurturing way. A mentee was someone seeking guidance in developing specific competencies, self awareness and skills in early intervention. The study aim was to evaluate outcomes of formal and informal nursing mentorship programs in Kenya public universities. This was a descriptive and exploratory cross-sectional evaluative study. It used both qualitative and quantitative methods in data collection where 305 mentees and mentors participated. Qualitative data collection utilised focus group discussions, while quantitative utilised questionnaires. In quantitative data collection method, simple random sampling was used while in qualitative, purposive and snowball non probability samplings were used to select participants. Exploratory data analysis was used to summarize quantitative data. For qualitative data analysis, thematic content analysis was done. The outcomes of formal and informal mentorship programs that were reported were nursing profession, nursing program and personal growths. Nursing profession growth was the outcome that was highly rated by almost more than a half (52.3%) of respondents. On nursing profession growth, averagely (67%) of mentees passed the national nursing council exam; more than a half (50%) of nurse mentors reported quality of nursing care given to patients by mentees improved; and less than 50% of mentors reported they got promotions. On nursing programs growth, there was a fairly constant rate in recruitments and retention of mentees and mentors. On personal growth, there was improved personal satisfaction, accountability and responsibility, morale, self confidence, knowledge and skills, and development of connectedness and everlasting friendships. The study therefore recommended that, all the stakeholders should be encouraged to evaluate nursing mentorship programs in institutions’ of higher learning. On the other hand, stakeholders should create, implement and update useful mentorship programs evaluation tools. Policy makers should act to their best to secure mentorship programs and produce laws that favours their implementation and evaluation. For further studies, this study recommended, study to assess relational and reciprocal outcomes such as personal growth, interdependence and connectedness.
Key words:
Evaluation, Mentees, Mentors, and Mentorship
