Relational factors key to mentoring underrepresented nurse faculty

Nursing deans should implement mentorship programs emphasizing relationship building, transparency and meaningful engagement to successfully mentor faculty who are underrepresented minorities in nursing, a study published in Nursing Outlook found. The study ─ believed to be the first to survey and convene a focus group of underrepresented minority faculty to identify and prioritize barriers, facilitators and key metrics critical to mentoring underrepresented minority nurse faculty for success on the tenure track ─ found relational factors, including effective communication and authentic engagement, were critical components of successful mentorship. The importance of relational factors surprised the authors because retention, increased publications or grant awards typically define successful mentorship in academic settings. The authors also call for workload adjustments for mentors and institutional investment in structured mentorship programs. (Nursing Outlook article, 5/23/25)