NEWS A new doctoral thesis from Umeå University shows that mentorship benefits not only newly graduated nurses but also the experienced nurses who act as mentors. For mentorship to be sustainable over time, employers and management must provide clear support and structure.
Stina Kallerhult-Hermansson, lecturer at the Department of Nursing, has studied nurses and mentorship in her doctoral thesis.
ImageHans KarlssonMentorship is truly an investment in the whole team
“When mentors grow in their professional role, the entire healthcare system benefits. Mentorship is truly an investment in the whole team,” says Stina Kallerhult Hermansson, Lecturer at the Department of Nursing at Umeå University-
While previous research on mentorship in healthcare has largely focused on the experiences of the newly graduated nurse, Kallerhult Hermansson’s thesis shifts the spotlight to the mentors. The work is part of a Swedish–Norwegian collaboration in which a joint mentorship model was developed and tested in both Västerbotten and Nordland. Mentors received dedicated training and were paired with newly employed nurses, with the aim of strengthening mentorship as a support structure and contributing to a more sustainable working life.
The study also examined nurses in Västerbotten and Nordland more broadly, focusing on aspects such as job satisfaction and perceived professional competence. The results show that mentors experienced both personal and professional growth – including strengthened leadership skills, deeper reflection on their professional identity, and a renewed sense of pride in their expertise.
The findings further reveal that nurses with one and a half to five years of work experience reported the lowest job satisfaction. This group showed lower satisfaction than both newly graduated nurses and those with longer experience.
“This group of nurses may benefit particularly from mentorship in order to remain in the profession,” says Stina Kallerhult Hermansson.
Another key conclusion is that sustainable mentorship requires employers to integrate it into everyday routines and provide organizational support.
“Mentorship must be part of daily practice and supported at the organizational level. This benefits both staff development and patient safety.”
Stina Kallerhult Hermansson defended her doctoral thesis at Umeå University on 5 December 2025.
Read the thesis: Being and becoming a mentor: personal and professional growth in a Swedish-Norwegian multicenter nurse mentorship intervention
Stina Kallerhult Hermansson grew up in Ljusne in the region of Hälsingland. She moved to Umeå to study and completed her nursing degree in 2004. Her clinical background is primarily in surgery, and she is also a trained nursing educator who teaches in the nursing programme.
