Coaching and mentoring in nursing practice

Abstract Introduction: Coaching and mentoring is a form of personal and professional development, which could change the image of the modern nursing profession and encourage nurses. Would allow leaders to introduce new solutions that could provide satisfaction from work and promote the development of nursing. The purpose of the study was to know the level of knowledge about coaching and mentoring among nurses. Materials and methods: The study involved 256 active nurses employed in the different branches of the Public Independently targeted Clinical Hospital No. 2 Pomeranian Medical University in Szczecin (Poland). As a diagnostic survey was used. Research tool was the original questionnaire surveys consisting of 29 questions. Results: Although respondents were generally familiar with the term ‚coaching’, only 4.5% indicated the correct definition. Among nursing staff 43.5% did not know what coaching is and did not declare that they knew the definition. The correct definition of mentoring was shown by 30.5% of respondents, with 32.5% indicating an incorrect response, despite declaring the familiarity with this term. Conclusions: The knowledge in an environment nursing on coaching and mentoring as a means of personal development is negligible. Mentoring is more well known and understood. As for the anticipated benefits indicates the need to undertake systematic training of nursing staff in this regard.