The Importance of Mentoring in Nursing Academia

Abstract

Mentoring in academia promotes the retention of students and future faculty. Presently, it is general knowledge that we have a shortage of nurses in our profession. However, we also have a shortage of experientially qualified educators and mentors. In general, the problem is there is a lack of mentors in healthcare as a whole that have the ability or willingness to mentor future generations of faculty. Mentors are needed to pass on knowledge and promote retention of students and faculty in academia. The example we present to the students in healthcare professions will also impact the retention of healthcare faculty as a whole. It is logical to think that if we retain our students in academia, we also retain future experientially qualified faculty in academia. How we mentor one another as a novice and seasoned faculty can impact what students see and learn as well from us. A literature review of 46 articles was completed and 19 of the articles were used as references in this article, along with a few more relevant references. The articles from the literature review showed evidence of positive mentoring experiences lead to the retention of students, future mentees, and mentors in nursing academia.