A Mentor-Protege Program for New Faculty, Part II: Stories of Mentors

Mentorship has been identified as an influential factor in retaining new nursing faculty. A mentor-protege program for novice faculty was implemented to promote development of the proteges in their role as nurse educators. A qualitative research study conducted to illuminate the meaning of experiences of mentors led to the emergence of four patterns: The Significance of the Mentor-Protege Relationship, Communication as Important Between Mentor and Protege, The Mentor-Protege Program-Protege's Perspectives, and The Mentoring Role as Expert Educator. The data from the study support the significance of providing mentorship to novice or new nurse educators. The data suggest that mentors benefit from participation in a mentor-protege program as much as the proteges. Similar programs are needed in nursing if we are to mentor and encourage faculty to begin and remain in the role of educators to combat the future nurse educator shortage.