The Preservation of Intellectual Capital of Nurses Working in the Community Hospital

Abstract

The purpose of this study was to examine nurse mentoring, succession planning, and perceived professional responsibility as a means of sustaining intellectual capital in a community hospital. Nurses completed the Alleman Mentoring Activities Questionnaire and the Nursing Intellectual Capital Inventory, and they participated in focus groups. This study has created opportunity for dialogue around mentoring and succession planning activities. Findings from this study were restricted to the state of mentoring at the time of the study as perceived by those who returned surveys or participated in focus groups. Further research is needed to gain a better understanding of the needs and expectations for mentoring activities within the organization and for nurses in general as a means to support succession planning.