Mills J E, Francis K, Bonner A
School of Nursing and Midwifery, Monash University, Gippsland Campus, Churchill, Victoria, Australia.
Rural Remote Health. 2007 Oct-Dec;7(4):842. Epub 2007 Dec 5.
Like the fictional 'Accidental Tourist', an author who does not plan to write about travel, the accidental mentor is an experienced rural nurse who does not plan to be a mentor, and yet assumes that role with new or novice rural nurses as a result of them encountering a critical incident. Accidental mentoring is a short-term relationship that provides support for the new or novice nurse in managing the incident, while maintaining their level of confidence. This article describes the findings from a constructivist grounded theory study that examined Australian rural nurses' experiences of mentoring, including evidence for a new concept of mentoring - accidental mentoring.
Constructivist grounded theory is a research methodology that focuses on issues of importance for participants around an area of common interest - in this case Australian rural nurse mentoring. In this study, seven participants were interviewed, generating nine transcripts. These were analysed using a process of concurrent data generation and analysis. In addition, the literature regarding rural nurse workforce and mentoring was incorporated as a source of data, using collective frame analysis.
Rural nurses live their work, which predisposes them to developing supportive relationships with new or novice rural nurses. Supportive relationships range from preceptoring, to accidental mentoring, mentoring and deep friendship, depending on the level of trust and engagement that is established between the partners and the amount of time they spend together. Accidental mentoring is a short-term relationship that is prompted by experienced rural nurses observing a new or novice rural nurse experiencing a critical incident.
Findings are presented that illustrate a new concept of accidental mentoring not present in the current literature around nurse mentoring. A series of recommendations are included that suggest strategies for improved rural nurse retention as an outcome of recognising and developing such supportive relationships in the workplace. Strategies include: performance review and development processes that account for all forms of supportive relationships conducted in the workplace; recognising the importance of developing supportive relationships and allocating time for these; and continuing professional development designed to meet local needs for developing a culture of support in the workplace.
就像虚构作品《意外的游客》中的作者一样，本无意撰写关于旅行的内容，意外导师是一位经验丰富的乡村护士，本不打算成为导师，但由于新入职或初出茅庐的乡村护士遭遇了重大事件，这位经验丰富的乡村护士便承担起了导师的角色。意外指导是一种短期关系，能在新护士或初出茅庐的护士应对事件时给予支持，同时保持他们的信心水平。本文介绍了一项建构主义扎根理论研究的结果，该研究考察了澳大利亚乡村护士的指导经历，包括一种新的指导概念——意外指导的证据。
建构主义扎根理论是一种研究方法，聚焦于围绕共同兴趣领域（在本案例中为澳大利亚乡村护士指导）对参与者而言重要的问题。在本研究中，对7名参与者进行了访谈，生成了9份访谈记录。使用同步数据生成与分析的过程对这些记录进行分析。此外，将有关乡村护士劳动力和指导的文献作为数据来源纳入其中，并采用集体框架分析。
乡村护士全身心投入工作，这使他们倾向于与新入职或初出茅庐的乡村护士建立支持性的关系。支持性的关系范围从带教、意外指导、指导到深厚的友谊，这取决于双方建立的信任程度和参与度以及他们在一起相处的时间。意外指导是一种短期关系，由经验丰富的乡村护士观察到新入职或初出茅庐的乡村护士遭遇重大事件而引发。
研究结果呈现了当前护士指导相关文献中不存在的意外指导这一新概念。文中包含了一系列建议，这些建议提出了一些策略，旨在通过在工作场所认可并发展此类支持性的关系来提高乡村护士的留任率。策略包括：绩效评估和发展过程要考虑到工作场所中开展的所有形式的支持性的关系；认识到发展支持性的关系的重要性并为此分配时间；以及开展持续专业发展，以满足当地在工作场所培育支持文化的需求。
