Paper
Monday, November 5, 2007

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This presentation is part of : Implementation of Mentoring Strategies
The Development of a Mentorship Instrument Utilizing a Concept Analysis Approach
Gina Hale, MSN, RN, JoAnne Gay Dishman Department of Nursing, Lamar University, Beaumont, TX, USA
Learning Objective #1: identify characteristics of mentorship based upon a concept analysis.
Learning Objective #2: discuss outcomes of mentorship for individuals and for the nursing profession.
The nursing literature abounds with articles on mentorship, most asserting that mentorship is an effective method to retain nurses.  The literature advocates the mentorship relationship and affirms that this endeavor yields valuable rewards for those involved.  While the need to provide a clear characterization of mentorship is repeatedly asserted in the literature, a variety of interpretations are found, most of them vague.  However, developing a definitive depiction of mentorship is not sufficient. As a profession we need to objectively measure whether or not mentorship is taking place within our work environments.  

 Based on an extensive literature review of scholarly nursing articles, an instrument to measure mentorship relationships was developed using a concept analysis approach.  Utilizing this process, the antecedents, attributes, and consequences of mentorship were identified and provided a foundation for the development of The Hale Mentorship Assessment for Nurses.

 The antecedents of mentorship were identified as personality characteristics, a willingness to engage in the relationship, and a mutual chemistry between the two individuals involved in the relationship.  The attributes of mentorship were classified into three distinct categories: emotional functions, social functions, and professional role functions. Finally the literature asserts positive consequences for not only the mentor and the protégé but for the nursing professional as a whole by improving retention, supporting recruitment efforts, and facilitating safe and effective clinical practice.

 The Hale Mentorship Assessment for Nurses instrument is comprised of 63 four-point items on a forced choice scale.  Content and construct validity was established and a Cronbach’a alpha reliability coefficient was obtained with a score of .97. 

 Mentorship relationships are difficult to measure due to the inherent humanness in this relationship.  However, The Hale Mentorship Assessment for Nurses instrument is firmly grounded in the literature and provides a basis for measuring the unique qualities of mentorship. 

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