Academic nursing leaders are facing a growing challenge: a shrinking pool of qualified faculty, rising numbers of retirements, and new educators who feel overwhelmed and underprepared. Many new nursing instructors bring deep clinical expertise, but they sometimes lack formal training in pedagogy, classroom management, and curriculum design. Numerous studies and firsthand accounts confirm that new nursing educators may lack formal training in pedagogy and sometimes report struggling in basic aspects of teaching.
A pivotal qualitative study in Nursing Education Perspectives revealed that new faculty felt they were “starting from scratch” despite their clinical experience and that they struggled to adapt to academic culture, develop teaching skills, and understand curriculum development, underscoring the need for structured support.
Without intentional onboarding and mentorship, institutions risk losing talented educators not because the educators are unqualified but because they were never truly onboarded. According to the American Association of Critical-Care Nurses’ 2024 Annual Report, the US nursing faculty vacancy rate stands at 7.8%, driven by noncompetitive salaries and lack of prepared hires. When faculty leave, they take with them institutional knowledge, student relationships, and the investment made in their development.
5 strategies to create a stronger, more sustainable nursing educator mentoring program
1. Navigate the transition from expert clinician to novice educator
New instructors often find themselves swimming in the sea of academia, unsure how to plan lessons, manage classrooms, or navigate faculty dynamics. Mentorship provides a critical support system to help them transition successfully.
Actionable strategies:
- Begin mentoring early to set expectations and reduce isolation.
- Match mentors and mentees based on relevance, not convenience.
- Normalize uncertainty to help new faculty embrace the learning curve.
2. Adopt mentoring as a buffer against burnout and incivility
A 2024 study presented at the International Conference on Humanities, Social and Education Sciences identified incivility, unrealistic workloads, and lack of support as key contributors to faculty burnout. Mentorship offers a safe space to process challenges and build resilience. Mentor–mentee relationships help nursing educators feel supported, valued, and less alone.
Actionable strategies:
- Train mentors to facilitate difficult conversations.
- Use real-world scenarios to build confidence in classroom management.
- Foster empathy and psychological safety through active listening.
3. Define what effective mentoring looks like
Mentorship should prioritize relationship building over hierarchy. A strong mentor creates space for trust, shared growth, and authentic connection.
Actionable strategies:
- Avoid assessment-driven relationships that erode trust.
- Equip mentors with feedback tools and communication models.
- Blend formal check-ins with informal interactions to deepen rapport.
