Practice Innovations
Future trends in nursing workforce demand forecast a 6% annual growth, with nearly 200,000 job openings yearly for the next decade. The impending retirement of seasoned wound care nurses necessitates robust mentorship to guide the influx of protégé nurses.
Current literature reveals an uptrend in nursing student registrations; however, a scarcity of qualified instructors is evident, hindering the adequate meeting of nursing instruction demand. Effective preceptorship is essential as the global nursing shortage intensifies, requiring support for novice nurses through transition programs.
Methods: The goal of this practice innovation project is to develop an intensive approach to mentorship that maximizes opportunities allowing an emerging wound care nurse to be a mentee while reaching his maximum nursing career potential. Effective mentorship is essential as the global nursing shortage intensifies, requiring support for novice nurses through transition programs.
Built upon Benner’s novice-to-expert theory and integrating the five-step Mentoring Up Theory by Hale & Phillips (2019), this project employs a PACT approach: Professional Linkages, Aspirational Goal-Setting, Collaborative Partnership, and Transformational Leadership, aiming for unprecedented career progression through the establishment of professional goals between mentee and mentor.
Results: This one-year innovative program pairs an emerging wound care nurse with a chosen mentor, enabling him to attain his full potential through weekly strategic meetings, collaborative discussions, and focused problem-solving.
The emerging wound care nurse surpassed career potential benchmarks, transitioning from a BSN- to an MSN-prepared nurse within a year, achieving WTA-C certification, presenting at global conferences, publishing articles, and speaking at various forums, exceeding typical expectations for novice nurses.
Discussion: This project demonstrated the significant impact of intensive, evidence-based mentorship programs, allowing novice nurses to achieve unparalleled excellence and career milestones. It advocates for the integration of effective mentorship as a pivotal component in wound care specialty training programs, addressing the global need for proficient wound care professionals and serving as a valuable asset for the future of the wound care nursing specialty.