The Significance of Mentoring the Home Infusion Nurse: A Phenomenological Study

Over the past several decades, the healthcare system began to move technologically challenging and high-risk procedures, such as intravenous infusions (IV), from the hospital setting to alternative care sites including hospital infusion suites, free standing infusion centers, and the home setting. The demand for skilled home infusion nurses is increasing as IVs are now administered in the home setting. The purpose of this phenomenological study was to understand how mentoring the home infusion nurse, through a comprehensive mentoring program, could enhance and benefit the nurse's clinical skills, professional development, and job satisfaction. Benner's premise of novice to expert and Knowles' adult learning concepts provided the theoretical framework for this study. The research questions for this study included questions on how home infusion nurses have been mentored in the past, how mentoring programs could potentially benefit the home infusion nurse, and if mentoring these specialized nurses might provide retention and job satisfaction strategies. Telephone interviews of seven expert home infusion nurses were conducted using the 14-open-ended question Interview Guide. Transcribed interview responses were categorized, coded, and analyzed. Research results suggested the merits of incorporating several educational strategies, beginning in entry level nurse training. This study leads to positive social change by offering solutions to retain and professionally develop the home infusion nurse, which has the ultimate potential of affording excellence in patient care outcomes through nurse mentoring.