Critique of a Classmates Paper, Essay Example

This paper provides an innovative solution to an eminently vexing problem: What to do about the increasing shortages of nurses?  In this paper, the author does a sufficient job of describing the problem: Not only are fewer individuals entering the profession, but even among those that are in the profession are leaving their professions at an unprecedented rate.  The author posits that in order to deal with this problem, mentorship is a viable solution. The author also provides a list of mentoring benefits including the economic and personal benefits that accrue to individual that participate in the activity.  Overall, the author makes a convincing case based on the material presented in its favor.

The paper could use additional work in understanding how mentoring does or does not solve the current structural problems that, it could be argued, cause individuals to leave the profession.  That is, excessive stress on the job, poor relations with doctors, and low pay are all key structural factors that push nurses out.  The author, while briefly touching on these issues, does not provide a prolonged discussion of how mentoring would help to ameliorate these stressors.  Does mentoring lead to substantially lower stress levels that would overcome the constant stress on the job? Does mentoring help to deal with other issues such as low pay and recognition on the job?  The author needs to deal with these issues in more detail before positing that mentoring can solve the many ills of the nursing profession.  In addition, the author should stratify his/her conclusions based on existing research and mentoring in different practice divisions.  For example, does mentoring have a more palpable impact on critical care nurses versus other nurses?  This would be helpful in understanding which departments to start with rather than proposing a blanket solution to the proposed problem.