Exploring the Student Peer Mentor's Experience in a Nursing Peer Mentorship Program

Abstract

Background: The mentor's role is often underreported in the literature. Given the pivotal role peer mentors play in mentorship efforts, the current study sought to explore the experiences and perceptions of peer mentors enrolled in a university-affiliated, nursing student, peer mentorship program. Method: A qualitative descriptive design was conducted using purposive and snowball sampling techniques. A one-time interview was conducted with participants using a semistructured interview guide. Inductive thematic content analysis occurred concurrently with data collection. Results: Eight mentors participated revealing four major themes: Doing What I Wish Someone Had Done for Me, Initial Face-to-Face Contact Is Key, Being Thrown to the Wind, and Practicing What I Will Use as a Nurse. Conclusion: Aspects of self-directed learning may benefit future careers for student peer mentors. Opportunities for program enhancement include coping and communication skills for peer mentors. Future “scaled-up” evaluations are needed for ongoing quality improvements using multimethod approaches. [ J Nurs Educ. 2018;57(7):422–425.]