Traditional vs. Technology-Based Mentoring: Perspectives and Influence on Clinical Performance Among Generation

Mentoring plays an important role in supporting the professional development of Generation Z nurses as they transition into clinical practice. This study examined the perspectives of Generation Z nurses regarding traditional and technology-based mentoring and their clinical performance in a selected tertiary government hospital. Using a quantitative descriptive-comparative and correlational research design, the study found that respondents held positive perceptions of both traditional and technology-based mentoring, highlighting the value of direct clinical guidance and technology-assisted learning for their professional growth. The findings further revealed a consistently high level of clinical performance in technical skills and precision, critical thinking and decision-making, patient communication, and documentation and digital literacy. No significant difference was found in nurses' clinical performance by mentoring style, indicating that both approaches were equally effective in supporting clinical competence. Moreover, most demographic characteristics were not significantly associated with clinical performance. Based on these findings, a Strategic Hybrid Mentorship Program is proposed to integrate the strengths of traditional and technology-based mentoring in enhancing the competence and continuous professional development of Generation Z nurses.