Mentoring as a determinant to effective job performance among nurses in tertiary healthcare institutions in Abia State, Nigeria

Abstract

Mentoring is a crucial tool that involves supporting the growth of knowledge, experiences, skills, capabilities, competencies and confidence of younger and newly employed nurses (mentees) by older or more experienced nurses (mentors) for better, sustainable and enhanced job performance in the tertiary healthcare institutions. This examined mentoring as a determinant to effective job performance among nurses in tertiary healthcare institutions in Abia State, Nigeria. It adopted a descriptive research design, with population of three hundred and one (301) professional nurses, from two (2) tertiary healthcare institutions. The total enumeration sampling technique was considered. A structured questionnaire with closed-ended questions, validated by three research experts was used for collecting data. Data were analysed using descriptive statistics of mean scores and standard deviations, as well as inferential statistics of Pearson Product Moment Correlation (PPMC) coefficient and linear regression statistics. The study revealed that mentoring affects effective job performance among nurses in the tertiary healthcare institutions. However, lack of mentoring skills among senior nurses, poor communication between senior and junior nurses, lack of recognition of nurses, lack of formal or structured mentoring programmes were the major factors that negatively affect the effectiveness of mentoring and job performance of nurses in the tertiary healthcare institutions. The study nevertheless, concluded that there is a positive significant relationship between mentoring and effective job performance among nurses in tertiary healthcare institutions in Abia State, Nigeria. It hence, recommended, among other measures that management of tertiary healthcare institutions, in collaboration with Heads of nurses should prioritize mentoring by developing formal mentoring programmes.