E-Mentoring Program for Newly Hired Nurses

The E-mentorship Program is planned to last four weeks to facilitate the adaptation process of newly hired nurses in intensive care units. The program will be conducted through a specialized web-based e-mentorship platform, enabling experienced nurses to mentor and support the professional development of new hires.

This study aims to design, implement, evaluate and determine the effect of an e-mentorship program that will provide online support to facilitate the adaptation of new nurses to work.

Research Hypotheses H1 - The work readiness score of mentees who participated in the e-mentorship program is higher after the program than before the program.

H2 - The satisfaction with the use of the e-mentorship website is proportional to the work readiness score of mentees.

H3 - The design and usability of the e-mentorship website are effective in facilitating the adaptation of new nurses to work.

Research Goals

* Design of an e-mentoring program that nurses can use,
* Implementation of the e-mentoring program,
* Evaluation of the satisfaction of using the e-mentoring website,
* Determining the effect of job adaptation of new nurses.

In Turkey, the adaptation of newly hired nurses to institutions and organizational culture typically occurs through an apprentice-mentor relationship under the guidance of experienced nurses. Within mentoring and guidance programs established by institutions, newly hired nurses work with mentors assigned by the organization. Mentors are expected to be continuously available to support new nurses, facilitate their learning processes, and foster adaptation to the work environment through constructive and critical guidance. However, in these programs, mentors often struggle to fulfill these responsibilities in addition to their daily tasks, finding it challenging to allocate time for their mentees and facing increased workloads; mentees, in turn, may have difficulty reaching their mentors when needed. Studies indicate that nurses participating in mentorship programs demonstrate lower turnover rates compared to those without such programs, underscoring the importance of mentorship.

Research on mentoring nurses in their first year of practice shows that mentorship reduces turnover, eases adaptation, and helps them develop essential professional skills. Mentors serve as role models for mentees and play a crucial role in fostering a supportive workplace culture. Furthermore, mentorship has been shown to reduce clinical practice-related stress. The findings from these studies highlight the effectiveness of mentorship programs in supporting the adaptation of new employees, while also emphasizing the need to eliminate time and space limitations for an effective mentoring process. These findings point to the potential benefits of e-mentorship. Leveraging emerging technologies is thus essential in facilitating the adaptation of newly hired nurses and fostering a skilled workforce. Notably, the literature does not currently include an e-mentorship application specifically for newly hired nurses in Turkey. This study aims to develop, implement, and evaluate an e-mentorship program, presenting an innovative contribution to the literature and holding significant potential for enhancing professional practice.

Eligibility Criteria:
Inclusion Criteria:

* Newly hired nurses (mentees) employed for less than one year
* Senior nurses (mentors) with at least three years of experience working in an adult intensive care unit
* Working as a nurse in a secondary or tertiary adult intensive care unit
* A minimum of a bachelor's degree in nursing for mentors (preferably a graduate degree)
* Possession of an intensive care nursing certification for mentors
* Possession of a smartphone with an operating system such as iOS or Android, or regular access to a computer

Exclusion Criteria:

* Failure to complete the e-mentoring program
* Currently employed for more than one year (for newly hired nurses/mentees)
* Less than three years of experience in an adult intensive care unit (for senior nurses/mentors)
* Lack of required nursing certifications or educational qualifications (for mentors)
* Inability to regularly access a smartphone with iOS/Android or a computer
* Currently on extended leave (e.g., maternity, medical, or personal leave)
* Participation in any other formal mentoring or similar professional development programs during the study period