Evaluation of the Inaugural Pennsylvania School Nurse Mentorship Program.

Abstract

The role of a school nurse has evolved due, in part, to complex health conditions and the COVID-19 pandemic. In turn, nurse burnout and early retirement are contributing to school nurse shortages across the United States. Interprofessional support, training, and mentorship are needed to support school nurses new to the field. Thirty early-career Pennsylvania school nurses (15 mentors, 15 mentees) participated in a one-year mentorship and professional development program that included one-to-one mentorship and a five-part professional learning seminar series. Mentored pairs created mentorship action plans guided by the 21st Century School Nursing Practice^TM Framework. Participants completed mentored meetings with high fidelity (93% completion). Mentees and mentors reported high levels of satisfaction with their experience. Mentees' confidence in performing action plan items improved after participating in the program. This study suggests mentorship among school nurses is a valuable strategy to increase confidence in practice and develop professional relationships.