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• The programme supported leadership development in postdoctoral nurses. • Improved leadership, professional development, and identities were found. • The programme strengthened collaborations and research productivity. • Participants highly valued individual mentoring trajectories. • The programme has the potential to support the development of academic leaders. Postdoctoral nurses have an important role in advancing nursing by generating knowledge and building networks in research, practice, and education which requires effective leadership. Therefore, the Leadership Mentoring in Nursing Research programme for postdoctoral nurses was developed. This study was to evaluate expectations, experiences, and perceived influence of the leadership mentoring programme on leadership and professional development, professional identity, and research productivity of postdoctoral nurses. A longitudinal mixed-method study with a concurrent triangulation design was used with data collected through semistructured interviews and online surveys. The leadership mentoring programme was found to be valuable by the participants who described strengthened leadership and professional development and development of professional identities. Participants showed increased research productivity and many moved to new/higher positions. The leadership mentoring programme was found to enhance the leadership and professional development of postdoctoral nurses and support them in their academic careers. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Doctor of Philosophy (PhD)-prepared nurses are expected to exercise leadership in their various roles. Therefore, European nurse scholars developed a cross-national web-based Nursing Leadership and Mentoring Educational (Nurse-Lead) program. To evaluate changes in leadership practices, professional and research competencies as well as career development of PhD-prepared nurses and doctoral nursing students after participation in the Nurse-Lead program. A pre-post-test evaluation was conducted. Surveys addressed leadership, professional and research competencies, and career development. Quantitative data were analyzed with descriptive statistics and paired sample t-tests. Content analysis was used for qualitative data. The 30 participants showed significant improvements in all leadership practices, professional competencies, and most research competencies. Participants reported increased confidence in decision-making, taking on new responsibilities, and becoming more visible within research teams. Web-based, international leadership and mentoring programs are promising tools for the leadership and professional development of PhD-prepared nurses and doctoral nursing students. • PhD-prepared nurses need strong professional and leadership competencies. • Leadership and mentoring programs are meaningful for professional development. • Mentoring and international collaboration support career development. • International collaborations should be strengthened to develop similar programs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]