Clinical Coaching and Transitioning Into the Professional Role Using Nurse Mentors

Abstract

The New York University Langone Medical Center Obstetric Nursing Mentorship Program was initiated to assist newly hired staff to transition to their professional roles. Conversations between the 25 newly hired staff and more senior nurses suggested a need for clinical coaching. Novice nurses historically lack confidence, efficiency of time management, and competency in performing with high acuity. The program includes nurses from labor and delivery and mother–baby units. Staff nurses with four or more years of obstetric experience were encouraged to enlist as mentors. The mentees were given a list of the volunteering mentors, were asked to rank their top three choices, and matched accordingly. The purpose of ranking is to encourage a mentee to choose someone they feel comfortable with, who may or not have been a preceptor. Mentor–mentee dyad interactions were promoted through professional formal and informal meetings and personal communication. A kick-off event, including night and day shift staff, was held to promote communication and a team-building environment. Based on mentee feedback through a presurvey and Likert scale, the program was considered beneficial in the areas of work experience, support system, self-confidence, teamwork, knowledge and skills, and intraprofessional communication. The survey will be distributed at 3-month intervals, concluding at 1 year of participation. A handbook was developed to assist in the framework of the program and guide mentorship pairs throughout the process. Goals include enhancing team building, staff engagement, shared leadership, healthy work environment, and professional development.