A clinical leadership-mentoring framework for nurse managers in mental health care settings

Abstract

In the rapidly evolving landscape of the 21st century, leadership is recognised not merely as an art but as a value-driven imperative vital for transformation across all fields, including mental health care. The ongoing transition from traditional to modern leadership approaches presents fascinating challenges, particularly in nursing. Mentoring of upcoming nurse leaders is essential for a successful role transition. The purpose of this study was to develop a clinical leadership-mentoring framework for nurse managers in mental health care settings to foster growth in mental health leadership. A qualitative approach and grounded theory design were used to explore and describe the leadership-mentoring opportunities and challenges that novice clinical nurse leaders and clinical nurse leaders are faced with in mental health care settings. Focus group interviews were used for data collection. The population consisted of assistant nursing managers and operational nursing managers working in two public mental health care institutions in Gauteng Province, as these individuals engaged in leading mental health care institutions. The total number of participants for the research study was twenty-seven (27). The sample consisted of assistant nursing managers (n = 12) and operational nursing managers (n = 15). Thematic data analysis was conducted. The findings revealed that there are challenges experienced by the assistant managers and the operational managers for effective clinical leadership mentoring. The clinical leaders recounted their own experiences of being mentored and identified the factors and strategies that facilitated the mentorship of novice leaders. Institutional and professional challenges, as well as difficulties encountered when working with mentees, were outlined as aspects that impeded effective mentorship. Clinical nurse leaders reflected on opportunities, or a lack thereof, for promotion into leadership positions within a mental health care setting and indicated the importance of sound mentorship to facilitate the process. Dickoff and James' survey list of 1968 was used for the development of a clinical leadership-mentoring framework for managers in mental health clinical settings.