Nursing education administrators: level of career development and mentoring.

The focus of this study was to analyze the influence of mentoring on the level of career development of nursing education administrators. Other variables that may influence the level of career development of nursing education administrators also were examined. These included early life influences, academic preparation, supporting factors, constraining factors, and career stage. Relationships among these variables are depicted in the conceptual Model of Career Development in Academic Administration. Survey research methods were used in this correlational, retrospective study. A questionnaire developed by the investigators was mailed to a randomly selected national sample of 600 nursing education administrators in National League for Nursing-accredited baccalaureate and higher degree programs. A response rate of 71 per cent yielded 427 completed questionnaires. Multiple regression techniques were used to examine the relationships between dependent variables and independent variables in the conceptual model. Nine variables explained 59 per cent of the variance in level of career development scores. This variance was explained by highest degree earned, number of years since completion of the highest degree, number of years as an academic administrator, the scholarly difficulty index, the work commitment index, mentoring relationships, number of months of nonemployment, number of children, and type of institution where highest degree was earned. Mentoring contributed significantly to the prediction of level of career development of nursing education administrators and therefore should be encouraged and fostered.