The stakeholders' role in informal mentoring: a qualitative descriptive study of nurses and midwives working in acute care settings

AimTo understand the role of stakeholders (mentee, mentor, and the organisation) in informal mentoring of nurses and midwives working in acute care settings.DesignA qualitative descriptive study guided by reflexive thematic analysis. This manuscript was written in adherence to the Standards for Reporting Qualitative Research.MethodsSemi-structured interviews with a convenience sample of 35 nurses and/or midwives working in three regional hospitals in Uganda were conducted between June and September 2022.ResultsFive overarching themes were identified reflecting nurses' and midwives' perceptions on building blocks of successful mentoring; approaches to mentor/mentee selection; varied strategies for mentoring in hospital environments; responsibilities of the stakeholders; and mentoring being a win-win for all stakeholders. Collectively, these themes highlight the input, processes, and short-term outcomes of engaging nurses and midwives in mentoring within acute care settings.ConclusionOur findings reveal that informal mentoring offers advantages comparable to those of formal mentoring programs. These findings also challenge the prevailing notion of unidirectional mentoring. Mentees, just like mentors, play a proactive role in the informal mentoring process. Furthermore, the organisation is not simply a contextual variable; it actively contributes to the dynamics of informal mentoring relationships. The study also highlights the potential for inter-unit and inter-facility mentoring.Clinical trial numberNot applicable.