Mentorship: A lifeline for oncology nurses during the COVID-19 pandemic Meeting Abstract
| Authors: | Porinchak, M.; Borzain, N.; Miller, C. |
| Abstract Title: | Mentorship: A lifeline for oncology nurses during the COVID-19 pandemic |
| Meeting Title: | 47th Annual Congress of the Oncology Nursing Society (ONS) |
| Abstract: | As nurses have confronted COVID-19, arguably the most serious health crisis of our time, the need to care for themselves and their colleagues has become crucial. A meta-analysis published in 2020 showed the toll on healthcare workers was significant for anxiety, depression, and insomnia. The department of nursing at a large urban cancer hospital created and launched a successful mentoring program in 2016. With many institutional changes driven by COVID-19, the program was paused at the height of the crisis. In Fall 2020 the decision was made to re-open enrollment and participation surpassed all previous cohorts, as a record number of nurses initiated mentoring partnerships while the pandemic was still raging. Program leaders sought to understand the experiences of nurses participating in the mentoring program during COVID-19, assessing its impact on psychological well-being, professional support, and job satisfaction. Traditional means of connecting mentoring partners were replaced during the pandemic by an entirely virtual platform. A survey was sent to 193 mentoring participants from the Fall 2020 and Spring 2021 cohorts representing nurses and APRNs in various positions across the institution. The survey captured demographics followed by eight mentoring-specific questions. 61 participants (N=61) responded, a 31.6% response rate. Survey results showed 70.5% of respondents felt that their mentoring partnership improved job satisfaction and 77% said mentoring was a source of professional support. Most significantly, 72.2% of respondents state their mentoring partnership positively contributed to their psychological wellbeing during the COVID-19 pandemic. A virtual mentoring platform prompted by COVID-19 had a positive impact on participants overall. Survey results show that the program improved job satisfaction, which can impact staff retention rates. Professional development remained dynamic because of the mentoring program. Nurses felt supported during the pandemic both personally and professionally. Final presentation will share the program structure and a full review of survey data. The virtual format of the mentoring program leveraged technology to allow record-level participation, personal connection, and flexibility during an uncertain time. Large group sessions were combined with interactive virtual break-out rooms. In these sessions, partners met, discussed goals, and engaged in didactic exercises. This program could be implemented at other centers to increase nursing job satisfaction, retention, and psychological well-being. |
| Keywords: | program evaluation; job satisfaction; california; professional development; support, psychosocial; psychological well-being; oncologic nursing -- psychosocial factors; congresses and conferences -- california; covid-19 pandemic; mentorship -- methods |
| Journal Title: | Oncology Nursing Forum |
| Volume: | 49 |
| Issue: | 2 |
| Meeting Dates: | 2022 Apr 27-May 1 |
| Meeting Location: | Anaheim, CA |
| ISSN: | 0190-535X |
| Publisher: | Oncology Nursing Society (ONS) |
| Date Published: | 2022-03-01 |
| Start Page: | 14 |
| Language: | English |
| DOI: | 10.1188/22.Onf.E1 |
| PROVIDER: | EBSCOhost |
| PROVIDER: | cinahl |
| PUBMED: | 35191904 |
| DOI/URL: | |
| Notes: | Meeting Abstract: 023 -- in PDF named "2022 ONS Congress Podium Abstracts" -- Source: Cinahl |
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