Mentorship programs provided for new nurses: A systematic review

Beke M., KAYA H., Çonoğlu G., ŞEN Y.

Nurse Education Today, cilt.163, 2026 (SCI-Expanded, SSCI, Scopus) identifier identifier

  • Yayın Türü: Makale / Derleme
  • Cilt numarası: 163
  • Basım Tarihi: 2026
  • Doi Numarası: 10.1016/j.nedt.2026.107110
  • Dergi Adı: Nurse Education Today
  • Derginin Tarandığı İndeksler: Science Citation Index Expanded (SCI-EXPANDED), Social Sciences Citation Index (SSCI), Scopus, CINAHL, Education Abstracts, Educational research abstracts (ERA), MEDLINE
  • Anahtar Kelimeler: Mentor, Mentorship, New nurses, Newly graduated nurses, Professional development
  • Bezmiâlem Vakıf Üniversitesi Adresli: Hayır

Özet

Background: The early years of professional practice are a stressful and challenging period for new nurses. Mentorship programs are widely implemented to support their transition and reduce turnover rates. Objective: This study systematically reviews mentorship programs for new nurses, examining their effects, challenges, and implementation processes. Design: Systematic review. Data sources: Studies published in English between January 1, 2019, and September 30, 2024, were retrieved from EBSCO, Science Direct and SCOPUS databases. Eligibility criteria: Quantitative, qualitative, and mixed-methods studies focusing on mentorship programs for new nurses were included. Methods: Study selection and data extraction were performed independently by three researchers. The methodological quality of included studies was assessed using the Mixed Methods Appraisal Tool (MMAT) 2018. Results: A total of 7 studies met the inclusion criteria, with sample sizes ranging from 3 to 1078 participants. The mentorship programs varied in duration from 8 weeks to 2 years. The findings indicate that mentorship programs positively impact self-efficacy, self-confidence, stress management, job satisfaction, retention rates, professional communication, problem-solving, program effectiveness, and social support. Conclusions: Mentorship programs facilitate the transition into practice by improving job satisfaction, retention, and professional skills. However, variations in program structure and implementation highlight the need for standardized frameworks. Registration. Not registered.