Mentoring within nursing and especially forensic nursing, was not entirely proven to be an effective, evidence-based strategy that could be used to support and enhance the career development of nurses. Mentoring could not be said to be effective as it had not been adequately evaluated beyond the self-reported and perceived benefits of the participants. Extensive research into the effectiveness of mentoring within nursing generally and within a forensic nursing environment specifically is needed based on concrete measures of predetermined outcomes that extend beyond perceived satisfaction of mentors and mentees, and measures of activity within the mentoring relationship. Throughout the literature, mentoring is described as a reciprocal relationship between two people within a similar organization or profession. One person is more experienced and guides the other less experienced person. Through an extensive literature review, this study examined the impact of mentoring programs. The effectiveness of such programs was considered for both the general clinical nursing and clinical forensic nursing environments. References