MENTORING THROUGH PREDOCTORAL FELLOWSHIPS TO ENHANCE RESEARCH PRODUCTIVITY

This article reports a study of the mentoring relationships that devel oped during predoctoral fellowships awarded to five nursing students w ho worked with faculty mentors at the University of Kansas, School of Nursing. Data were gathered through interviews and a written questionn aire from each of eight study participants (four of the five pairs). T he analysis of interview and questionnaire data supported the existenc e of a mentoring relationship according to Yoder's (1990) model of men toring, with the addition of two variables, socialization as a researc her and mutual sharing, that are unique to doctoral education. Themes that represented the experience of the mentor-protege pairs were ident ified: (1) productivity, (2) work organization, (3) mutual learning, ( 4) problems encountered, (5) beneficial research application skills, a nd (6) innovative communication. All participants were enthusiastic ab out the experience, and students indicated increased confidence in app lication of the research process.