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Mentoring new nurses for hospital success

HCPro's Weekly Update on the ANCC Magnet Recognition Program®*, April 9, 2007

OSF Saint Anthony Medical Center of Rockford, IL, which received ANCC Magnet Recognition Program® designation in 2005, wanted to ensure new nurses felt comfortable and confident in the Intensive Care Unit (ICU). Jeannine Zuba, BSN, RN, clinical nurse manager of the neurological/trauma ICU, says the organization found new nurses had difficulty settling in after joining the unit because of poor communication with physicians, who did provide the same amount of respect to new nurses as they did to experienced nurses.

The hospital conducted an employee opinion survey that asked questions about improving nurse and physician relationships, and after analyzing the results, decided to develop a mentorship program in the ICU to give new nurses a partner for success.

The mentorship program pairs new nurses with experienced nurses for a year and has them meet each month for one hour. The pair also attends quarterly mentorship meetings where a team presents an educational, clinical, or fun in-service. Zuba says the program is successful as mentors offer a resource for support to new nurses.

"My seasoned nurses are like Mother Hens sometimes, beaming with pride when one of their own is successful with a difficult patient or volunteers for a committee involvement," says Zuba.  

Source: Jeannine Zuba, BSN, RN

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