The increasing complexity of modern healthcare systems has expanded the roles of nurses, requiring them to possess advanced leadership competencies to ensure effective patient care and organizational performance. However, many nurses encounter challenges in transitioning to leadership roles due to limited structured support. Mentorship has been identified as a critical strategy in bridging this gap by fostering leadership qualities and facilitating career progression. This study aimed to examine the effectiveness of mentorship in cultivating future nurse leaders and to develop a regression-based model that explains its influence on leadership development and career advancement. The study employed a quantitative multi-method approach using a descriptive-correlational and predictive research design. A total of 200 nurse mentors and mentees were selected through purposive sampling. Data were collected using validated instruments, including the Mentoring Competency Assessment, Leadership Practices Inventory, and Career Growth Scale. Descriptive statistics were used to determine levels of mentorship effectiveness, leadership qualities, and career progression, while Pearson’s correlation and multiple regression analyses were utilized to examine relationships and predictive effects among variables. The findings revealed that mentorship effectiveness, leadership qualities, and career progression were all rated at a moderate level. Significant positive relationships were found between mentorship effectiveness and leadership qualities, as well as between mentorship effectiveness and career progression. Regression analysis indicated that mentorship significantly predicts both leadership development and career advancement, with leadership qualities emerging as the strongest predictor. The model explained a substantial portion of the variance in mentorship outcomes, confirming the critical role of mentorship in shaping future nurse leaders. Mentorship is a vital and evidence-based strategy in fostering leadership competencies and supporting career progression among nurses. While current mentorship practices are moderately effective, enhancing their structure and consistency can further improve leadership outcomes. The regression-based model developed in this study provides a valuable framework for designing data-driven mentorship programs aimed at cultivating competent and resilient nurse leaders in modern healthcare settings.

Keywords: Mentorship, Nurse Leadership, Career Progression, Leadership Development.

Views (43)