Nursing student needs assessment and preferences for faculty-led mentoring

Stephanie Dunn; Jill Johnson; Halie Hansen; Francine Jensen

doi:10.1515/ijnes-2025-0006

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Nursing student needs assessment and preferences for faculty-led mentoring

Stephanie Dunn , Jill Johnson , Halie Hansen and Francine Jensen

Published/Copyright: August 20, 2025

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From the journal International Journal of Nursing Education Scholarship Volume 22 Issue 1

Abstract

Objectives

Nursing students encounter a myriad of challenges as they prepare for licensure. This study aims to identify specific needs and mentoring preferences of pre-licensure nursing students at various stages to inform faculty-led mentoring.

Methods

A needs assessment of 224 pre-licensure nursing students gathered quantitative and qualitative data on students’ perceived needs, mentoring preferences, and mentorship settings.

Results

The majority expressed strong interest in faculty mentorship, preferring in-person, informal meetings with mentors, and opportunities for electronic interactions. Students identified needs related to licensure exam preparation, study strategies, and balancing academics with personal responsibilities.

Conclusions

Faculty-led mentoring may help address academic and personal challenges faced by pre-licensure nursing students. Institutions should consider formal faculty-led mentorship programs based on student-identified needs to enhance student success.

Implications for an international audience

Findings can inform global pre-licensure nursing programs’ faculty-led mentorship initiatives tailored around student-identified needs, and preferences for faculty mentoring.

Keywords: undergraduate nursing student mentoring; faculty-led mentoring of nursing students; nursing student mentoring by faculty

Corresponding author: Jill Johnson, Department of Nursing, Utah Valley University, Orem, Utah, USA, E-mail: Jill.johnson@uvu.edu

Research ethics: IRB approval was obtained through Utah Valley University IRB on 1/9/2023 (Protocol #1232) and amended on 3/27/24. The local Institutional Review Board deemed the study exempt from review.
Informed consent: Informed consent was obtained from all individuals included in this study.
Author contributions: All authors have accepted responsibility for the entire content of this manuscript and approved its submission.
Use of Large Language Models, AI and Machine Learning Tools: None declared.
Conflict of interest: Authors state no conflict of interest.
Research funding: None declared.
Data availability: Not applicable.

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Received: 2025-01-17

Accepted: 2025-08-11

Published Online: 2025-08-20

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Articles in the same Issue

https://doi.org/10.1515/ijnes-2025-0006

Keywords for this article

undergraduate nursing student mentoring; faculty-led mentoring of nursing students; nursing student mentoring by faculty