Nurses' and Midwives' Experiences as Mentors in a Clinical Mentorship Program in Rwanda
Abstract
In Rwanda, the provision of maternal and child health care is often hindered by gaps in health care providers’ (HCP) knowledge and skills, and the management of pregnancy-related complications in health facilities. These factors contribute to maternal and child mortality rates (MMR). To help respond to the gaps, the Training Support and Access Model (TSAM) project implemented a practice-based clinical mentorship program (CMP) in the Northern and Southern provinces of Rwanda that involved mentors supporting mentees’ professional development to strengthen nurses’ and midwives’ capacity to provide knowledgeable maternal and child health care.
This qualitative descriptive study aimed to explore nurses’ and midwives’ experiences as mentors in this CMP. Fifteen mentors were purposefully sampled from a population of 60 mentors. Individual interviews were conducted using a semi-structured interview guide. Five themes emerged from the analysis: 1) Mentors collaborating in teams; 2) Facilitating the mentorship process; 3) Mentors’ perceptions of their role in the TSAM CMP 4) Challenges encountered by mentors in the TSAM CMP, and 5) Mentors’ recommendations to support future mentor engagement. Findings highlighted the importance of team collaboration which improved the quality of care provided and patient health outcomes, however, some challenges were encountered suggesting that an improvement in the MP plans could further enhance mentors’ experiences and ultimately, mentees’ knowledge and skill development.
Keywords: Mentor, mentorship, nurse, midwife, nursing and midwifery education, Rwanda.