Role of Mentoring in the Career Advancement of Hispanic Army Nurses.

摘要

Research in the area of mentoring relationships in the U.S. military is sparse. A few studies have explored the mentoring dyad in military organizations. Lewandowski (1985) determined that more than 60% of students in the Air War College had participated in at least one mentoring experience, and Mason (1989) identified mentoring as an important factor in the career progression of senior black officers in the United States Army. A survey of women Army officers found that women officers were less positive about their career development and received less mentoring than their male counterparts. Mathews (1988) surveyed 107 Air Force Nurse Corps officers, lieutenant colonels, and colonels, of which 67% acknowledged a mentor affiliation whose influence extended to role modeling (100%), career development (95%), and the provision of information (78%). In an investigation of mentoring relationships among Army Nurse Corps (ANC) officers, Yoder (1992) found that 83% of respondents had experienced one or more influential relationships during their military career. A majority of respondents indicated that the relationship had a significant influence on their professional lives. Although Yoder (1992) found no correlation between career development and mentoring relationship activities among these nurses, mentored officers reported greater satisfaction with their career progress than non-mentored officers. This study addresses the problem of the lack of information available about Hispanic mentoring relationships, career advancement, promotion, and retention, specifically among military nurses.