Introduction. The institution of mentoring is one of the key factors in ensuring the sustainability of nursing staff in the public healthcare system. Despite a significant amount of research devoted to the institutional, normative and organizational aspects of mentoring, nurses’ own perceptions of the purposes, functions and qualities of mentors remain understudied.
Aim. To identify nurses from public healthcare organizations’ perceptions of the goals, functions, and key qualities of mentors.
Results. Two dominant attitudes in the perception of mentoring were identified: a “technocratic” attitude, focused on the transfer of professional skills and compliance with standards, and a “humanitarian” attitude, emphasizing the importance of social integration, emotional support, and building confidence in mentees.
Methods. The empirical basis of the study consisted of data from an online survey of 1,122 nurses from public healthcare organizations in the Sverdlovsk region, conducted in August–September 2024. Univariate and comparative analysis methods were used to process the data.
Scientific significance. This study expands our understanding of the sociocultural and organizational aspects of mentoring in the healthcare system, revealing value and functional differences in how it is perceived by various professional groups. The obtained results contribute to the refinement of the competency model of a mentor of mid-level medical personnel.
Practical significance. The research findings can be used to develop and improve mentoring programs in public healthcare organizations, and to formulate criteria for selecting and training mentors.