The value of mentorship within nursing organizations.

PROBLEM: Hospitals are facing nurse retention challenges in the new millennium. Nurses are abandoning the bedside because of job dissatisfaction. Mentorship programs should be developed to enhance nursing satisfaction and thus improve retention and ultimately patient outcomes.

FINDINGS: Mentorship training in hospitals and the support of formal mentorship programs for new nurses are ways in which hospitals can meet this challenge.

CONCLUSIONS: This paper offers an overview of recent research on the value mentoring has for participants and healthcare organizations. The components of successful mentorship programs are discussed, and guidelines for implementation are recommended.