Exploring the experiences of legacy mentors, mentees and their managers; learning from Appreciative Inquiry

The legacy mentors' interpersonal skills and experience enabled them to overcome barriers associated with implementing the role. Key attributes such as communication and listening skills, respect and empathy allowed the mentees to accept and welcome guidance. Other requirements for success included flexibility, clear and consistent communication about the role, and mutually agreed expectations about the outcomes, process and commitment required from managers, mentees, and mentors. More research is required to establish how this initiative could be reflected in future nursing policy and implemented more widely.