Provincial Nursing Mentorship Initiative

The Provincial Nursing Mentorship Initiative will support regional health authorities to develop, implement and evaluate regional nursing mentorship activities in Saskatchewan. The initiative is modeled on the mentorship program at Regina Qu’Appelle Health Region.

The initiative supports new graduate nurses as they transition from a student role to a professional role. Mentoring is a process by which an experienced and knowledgeable practitioner (mentor) supports, inspires and nurtures the professional role socialization of a less experienced practitioner (protégé).

Goals

• To improve recruitment and retention rates.
• To facilitate professional role transition for new graduate nurses.
• To assist with succession planning.
• To increase understanding, awareness, and insight into the benefits and contributions of mentorship to quality workplaces.
• To enhance regional health authority (RHA) capacity for program development, implementation and evaluation.
• To promote a mentorship culture within health workplaces in Saskatchewan.
• To recognize leadership of experienced staff.
• To promote receptiveness toward new graduates and new employees by work units.
• To contribute to respectful workplaces.

Principles of the Nursing Mentorship Initiative

1. Mentoring workplaces are based on respect. They value the contributions and diversity of all members.
2. The culture of mentorship is supported by senior leadership as an integrated component in the health care environment at every level.
3. Mentorship includes both voluntary formal mentorship (RHA-supported mentoring relationships) and voluntary informal mentorship (mentoring relationships arising informally within workplaces).
4. Mentorship benefits both new members and experienced members of the work group, and enriches nursing practice.
5. Mentorship initiatives will incorporate evidence-informed practice and support new nurses’ transition into practice.

Other nursing mentorship programs and models for licensed practical nurses and internationally educated nurses will be researched and developed in consultation with RHAs, Nursing the Future, and other nursing stakeholders in 2008.

The Nurse Mentorship Initiative and the Nurse Graduate Job Program will be implemented simultaneously.

Coordination

Saskatchewan Ministry of Health will work with the RHAs and Nursing the Future to develop the mentorship program, facilitate workshops, and conduct evaluation.

The four RHAs (Prince Albert Parkland, Regina Qu’Appelle, Saskatoon and Five Hills) have each agreed to hire a coordinator and support other regions in the implementation of this program.

• Prince Albert will support the Prairie North, Keewatin Yatthé, Mamawetan Churchill River and Kelsey Trail Health Regions.
• Regina Qu’Appelle will support Sunrise Health Region.
• Saskatoon will support Heartland Health Region.
• Five Hills will support the Cypress and Sun Country Health Regions.

Regional mentorship coordinators will plan, develop, deliver and evaluate mentorship workshops and activities within the RHA, specific to RHA needs.

RHAs and the Saskatchewan Cancer Agency are eligible to receive funding for supernumerary positions, mentors’ time and workshops, in accordance with the Provincial Nursing Mentorship Initiative Guidelines.

For more information about the mentorship program, contact your regional mentorship coordinator or Saskatchewan Ministry of Health, Workforce Planning Branch, (306) 798-3187.