Roxelyn Baumgartner, MS, RN, ANP-BC
Inpatient Adult Urology Nurse Practitioner - VUMC
Adjunct Assistant Professor - VUSN
Type of project: Research
Title of project: Advanced Practice Provider Mentoring Pilot Project: End-of-Program Evaluation
Co-authors involved in this publication: Ty Williams, DNP, RN, ACNP-BC, FNP-BC
Description of project: A year-long Advanced Practice Provider group mentoring pilot was designed using the Strong Model after obtaining results from a needs assessment. At the pilot's conclusion, 100% of participants agreed that the pilot provided valuable experiences and the majority of mentees rated leadership as the most valuable content cycle.
Why you chose this project: As primary and specialty care are more frequently delivered by Advanced Practice Providers (APPs), it is paramount that APPs establish themselves as leaders. Mentoring has been embraced across disciplines as a tool to guide professional growth. A group mentoring pilot was designed using the Strong Model after obtaining results from a needs assessment survey. The purposes of the program were to: develop APP leadership skills; provide opportunities for networking; increase competencies in research and finance; and, assist participants to develop a clinical project. Each participant's project demonstrates the APPs contribution to the patient, profession or institution. A convenience sample of twenty participants (11 mentees and 9 mentors) began the program and nineteen (10 mentees and 9 mentors) completed the one-year program. Participants were divided into three groups that spent four months discussing topics related to leadership, finance, and research. Evaluation followed each cycle. Data from five surveys were used to evaluate program effectiveness and participant satisfaction. At the pilot's conclusion, 100% of participants agreed that the mentoring pilot provided valuable experiences; the small group discussions were relevant and meaningful; there was improved understanding of the APN role; and there was increased medical center networking. The majority of mentees rated leadership as the most valuable content cycle. Recommendations for future programs include starting all participants in the leadership module, continuing the use of the Strong Model and group mentoring format, and developing criteria by which to evaluate participant projects.
Presentations as a result of this project:
- 42nd Biennial Sigma Theta TauConvention - November 16-20, 2013 (podium)
- 2013 ANCC National Magnet Conference - October 2-4, 2013 (podium)
- Creating Healthy Work Environments Sigma theta tau - April 2013 (poster)
- TNA Convention - October 2012 (poster)
Notes from the spotlight:The mentoring pilot program provided a forum for Advanced Practice Providers to address unmet needs, enhance performance, achieve professional goals, and contribute to the mission of VUMC.
If you have any questions about Roxy's project she can be reached via email at roxy.baumgartner@vumc.org.