PICOT Worksheet

 
Research Question: Does the use of a formal mentoring program for new graduate nurses have a positive effect on their self-confidence and retention?
  1. Population (P): New graduate nurses
  2. Intervention (I): Formal mentoring program
  3. Comparison (C): What is the current practice you are comparing to “I”? (This element may be implied or missing):
    • Current Practice: Absence of a formal mentoring program or informal orientation processes
  4. Outcome (O):
    • Increased self-confidence among new graduate nurses
    • Improved retention rates of new graduate nurses
  5. Timeframe (T):
    • Is there a need to limit the timeframe for the intervention?
    • Timeframe: Not applicable (N/A)

Search Techniques:

  1. Databases: What three databases in the CCN library best address your research question?
    • CINAHL: For nursing and allied health literature
    • Cochrane Library: For systematic reviews and evidence-based practice resources
    • Medline (via PubMed): For biomedical and health-related literature
  2. Search Terms and Strategies:
    • Subject Headings:
      • Use headings such as “Mentoring,” “Nurse Retention,” “New Graduate Nurses,” and “Self-Confidence.”
    • Boolean Search:
      • Combine terms using Boolean operators (e.g., “Mentoring AND Nurse Retention,” “New Graduate Nurses AND Self-Confidence”).
    • Limiters:
      • After obtaining a reasonable number of relevant search results (10-30), apply additional limiters such as:
        • English Language: To ensure all studies are accessible.
        • Publication Year: Focus on studies published within the last 5-10 years.
        • Peer-Reviewed Journals: To ensure the credibility and quality of the studies.
        • Human Subjects: To ensure relevance to nursing practice.

Literature Review Worksheet

Your Name: Suzanne Reichert Date: November 10, 2013 Your Instructor’s Name: Michelle Krawczyk
Purpose: To find evidence to support an intervention that will change the outcomes for new graduate nurses, focusing on mentoring programs to enhance their self-confidence and retention rates.
  1. Search Question: Does the use of a formal mentoring program for new graduate nurses have a positive effect on their self-confidence and retention?
  2. Studies Selection:
    • Requirement: Find at least six (6) studies to support the need for change and the potential effectiveness of a formal mentoring program for new graduate nurses.
    • Selection Criteria:
      • Focus on studies that examine the impact of mentoring on nurse retention and self-confidence.
      • Include systematic reviews, randomized controlled trials (RCTs), and qualitative studies that explore the experiences of new graduate nurses.
      • Prioritize recent, peer-reviewed articles that offer strong evidence to support the intervention.

Next Steps:

  • Summarize Findings: After selecting the six studies, summarize the key findings from each study in terms of how they support the use of formal mentoring programs for new graduate nurses.
  • Synthesize Evidence: Identify common themes across the studies and discuss how the evidence supports the proposed intervention.