Mentorship in nursing is a valuable relationship that pairs an experienced nurse with a junior nurse so knowledge and experience can be shared. The mentor serves as a guide and offers support and guidance to the mentee as they embark on their new career in nursing. The mentor can play many roles, such as role model, supporter, and guide, so the mentee gets the full benefit of the experience. Mentorship in nursing can happen in any setting, such as a hospital, a private clinic, or a school and is a valuable way to foster professional growth and development, facilitate the transfer of knowledge and skills, and promote well-being among nurses. There are many benefits to both the mentee and mentor in this relationship, and the hope is that the junior nurse becomes a mentor and their mentor moves on in their career.
Some nursing organizations have mentorship programs available to their members because they understand the importance of this type of guidance at the beginning of a challenging career. It has been shown that the retention of mentored nurses is higher, which is especially important in the United States with the current critical shortage of nurses. These relationships can last for years, far beyond the point when a nurse graduates from school, as the relationship is one of trust, respect, and ultimately, friendship. As a mentor is always ahead of the mentee in experience and growth, they can take the mentee on their own journey of career advancement and teach by example. This relationship ensures nurses have the support they need, are given timely and effective advice, and have someone watching their back when they make mistakes or feel uncertain. It also provides patients with the very best of care because their nurses are passionate and committed to their jobs.
Career advancement
A mentoring relationship can help both the mentor and mentee advance further in their careers. For the mentor, teaching a new nurse how to navigate their work environment shows extraordinary leadership skills, which are on the list of must-haves when employers are looking to fill higher positions. Being a mentor also means honing soft skills like empathy, compassion, and patience which will help seasoned nurses move into careers with more responsibility and autonomy in patient care. Most organizations with mentoring programs will look towards the mentor first when a new position comes up because they want someone experienced in successfully guiding new employees.
Mentorship can also provide a new nurse with career advancement opportunities. Being paired up with a seasoned nurse can open doors to new contacts and training opportunities which will help the new nurse gain confidence and knowledge in their new career. Mentors can provide insight into the nursing profession that might have taken years to learn, so the mentee is in a great situation to learn the tricks of the trade and improve their patient care. When a new opportunity comes up, a mentee can turn to their mentor for interview and resume tips, as well as learn what to study or practice in terms of questions that may be asked. It is important for mentees to soak up as much as they can from the wealth of knowledge provided by their mentors so they can succeed and become mentors themselves.
Mentorship in nursing is provided when an individual applies for further education for a degree, such as a nurse practitioner. Accredited schools like Texas Women’s University offer a flexible curriculum and online courses for nurses who are currently working but want additional credentials to advance their careers. Learning to be a mentor is fulfilling and challenging, and the skills learned will carry a nurse through the rest of their career.
Professional development
As with any profession, a certain amount of further education is needed to maintain professional standing in an organization. Nurses and other medical staff need to update their licensing occasionally, and by participating in training courses, seminars, and workshops, they can get the number of units required. Mentors can facilitate this education by guiding their mentees to the proper training courses and organizations to join so they can focus on those that are most useful.
Further education, in terms of advanced degrees and certificates, can also help new nurses explore professional opportunities like research or teaching. Nurses who commit to lifelong learning can share their knowledge with their colleagues and achieve leadership and respect in their departments. This puts them in a great position to accept promotions when there is a position to fill. A good mentor will provide advice and guidance on which course to take if the mentee has a particular interest in a specialty.
Socialization
It can be challenging to go from being a full-time student to a full-time nurse, and having a support system of friends, family, and colleagues can help the transition go smoothly. A mentorship program is invaluable in this capacity, as a mentor has unique knowledge of what the mentee may be going through and can offer advice based on extensive experience.
Social stimulation also keeps the mind sharp and prepares a nurse for those times when they need to speak to patients and families clearly and compassionately. Some training programs offer mentors who can teach new nurses how to communicate with colleagues or teach presentation skills which come in handy when presenting symptoms to the medical team.
A good mentor knows that socialization involves attending seminars, workshops, and training sessions with other nurses who share the same commitment and passion for their jobs. By socializing with these individuals, mentees can feel motivated and inspired to work harder and achieve a high level of patient care. Mentors can introduce mentees at networking events which may put them in contact with people who can help their careers or give valuable advice on advancements in their field.
Nurses are usually the first people patients and their families see and have the most contact with, so good socialization skills can help nurses communicate clearly and provide a compassionate ear for their patients. Mentors can lead by example by displaying important traits like empathy, compassion, and patience.
Personal support
Mentorship provides a safe and supportive environment where mentees can openly discuss their challenges, concerns, and uncertainties and receive guidance and encouragement from their mentors. Mentorship provides someone for a nurse to talk to when they are facing personal challenges. They can offer a listening ear and act as a sounding board for the mentee’s concerns. They can also offer emotional support to nurses when they are dealing with personal issues such as stress, anxiety, and burnout. A mentor can help a nurse identify strategies to manage their emotions and find support when they need it.
In a challenging field such as nursing, it is important for a nurse to take care of their own mental and physical health, so they are at peak performance for their patients. A mentor is in aperfect position to keep an eye on the mentees and see if there are any indications of burning out or mental exhaustion. A good mentor will step in if they see danger signs and offer advice and support on how to deal with the situation.
Retention
Mentorship programs offer mentors and mentees the opportunity to hone skills that will help them in the future. This skill-building gives new nurses self-confidence and makes them feel secure that someone has their back in their new career. It makes moving past mistakes and learningfrom them much easier, rather than dwelling on them and getting stressed. Programs that pair seasoned nurses with those who have just graduated from nursing school have a higher retention rate because their employees feel they are being listened to and cared for.
A mentor will also listen to the concerns of the mentee and encourage them to advocate for their own needs. By doing this, nurses can let employers know what they require to do their jobs efficiently. This increases job satisfaction and teaches nurses communication, critical thinking, and advocacy skills that will come in handy during their careers. With the acute shortage of nurses in the United States, a higher retention rate for nurses is a must.
Key traits of a nurse mentor
To provide guidance and support to their mentees effectively, nursing mentors should possess certain qualities that will help them in this important relationship. These traits include experience, empathy, communication skills, patience, trustworthiness, positivity, and commitment.
- Experience
Mentors are usually chosen for their level of experience so they can impart useful knowledge to their mentees. An experienced nurse has been through the situations that a new nurse is about to experience, so they are the perfect person to talk to and ask advice from. Without experience, a mentor is not as effective in getting the respect of a mentee because they cannot impart their wisdom and that experience in guiding them through challenging situations.
- Empathy
Empathy is very important in gaining a mentee’s trust because even though a mentor may have gone through all the same trials and tribulations a new nurse is about to embark on, the mentee wants to know that their anxiety is not being minimized. Empathy involves the mentor telling the mentee that they understand where they are coming from and assuring them that it is a temporary situation because they have gone through it. A mentor should be comforting while not letting the mentee dwell on mistakes or conflicts for too long, which may hinder their progress inthe job.
- Communication skills
A good mentor or nurse educator should communicate clearly and concisely and always verify that the information was received and understood by the mentee. Good communication skills do not only involve being able to explain technical aspects of nursing but also understanding that listening is an important part of the equation. Mentors use their exceptional communication skills to listen to the concerns of their mentees and then measure their response so that it is objective and helpful. Mentees can also learn this valuable skill by watching the mentor lead by example and practice their own communication skills with colleagues.
- Patience
Patience is a virtue when it comes to the mentor-mentee relationship, and a good mentor will have an infinite amount of patience, especially at the beginning. This skill is one of the first traits most nurses will develop even before entering their respective professions. Mentors must be patient if their mentees are reluctant to accept advice or acquire new knowledge.
Patience also includes knowing when to take a step back and listen to the concerns of the mentee when they are questioning a piece of advice or perspective. By knowing when to acquiesce, the mentor gains the respect and trust of the mentee, which deepens their relationship and tightens their bond. Patience also includes not jumping into every experience the mentee is experiencing with an anecdote or advice on how they handled it but letting the nurse experience it in their own way and waiting to be asked for advice.
- Trust and respect
Without trust and respect, a mentorship cannot be as fruitful and helpful as possible to the mentee. It is the mentor’s job to create an atmosphere of trust and security for their mentee by listening to them and offering guidance when asked. The skills a mentor needs to possess are extremely helpful for their future because it shows that they can cultivate a positive relationship with someone new coming into the profession.
Mentees need to feel they are respected and can trust the person responsible for guiding them through the challenging start of their careers. This feeling of security can give them confidence in the job they are doing, help them achieve their goals, and ensure they always have someone they can confide in when they are unsure or anxious. Being respected goes a long way to increasing a new nurse’s self-esteem, especially on tough days when they are finding their job especially challenging.
- Positivity
A positive mental attitude does not mean smiling like a lunatic through every situation. It means having a positive outlook on how events will unfold and always looking on the bright side of every event, no matter how challenging that may be. Positivity in a mentor is the ability to soothe their mentee during stressful times by letting them know that they are not alone and everything will be alright. This kind of positivity comes from years of experience and knowledge in the field. Mentors should exude positivity even if they are uncertain because it makes their mentees feel safe in the knowledge that any situation can be handled.
If a mentor makes a negative comment about a colleague, a procedure, or the organization they work for, that can fill a mentee with doubt about where they are working and who they are working with. Having something positive to say can help a mentee focus on the important aspects of the job and not get distracted by rumors or gossip. Positivity is also contagious, and when a mentor and mentee are both exuding this trait, they can infect the rest of the team with good vibes. This passes on to the patients and other healthcare workers, and it becomes obvious to employers who should be promoted first when career opportunities arise.
- Commitment
It is difficult to cultivate respect, trust, and security when there is a lack of commitment, and a mentor is willing to push the mentee aside to pursue their own agenda. Being a mentor does not mean that the individual needs to give up anything like personal time, but it does entail a commitment to the mentee, who often needs guidance and advice. A mentor should always carve out time every day for their mentee, and if they are going to be unavailable, let them know so they donot feel ignored. At the beginning of this tenuous relationship, a commitment to the relationship is mostly based on hope, and it is important that neither one of the participants does anything to make the other think they are less than committed.
Amentor-mentee relationship is a valuable tool that can benefit both parties by helping each develop the skills they need to navigate their careers and environments. When a mentor is able to guide a junior nurse, they are honing their leadership skills in preparation for career advancement. A mentee learns by example how to be supportive, empathetic, and helpful by experiencing these skills with their mentor, and can then pass those qualities on to their own mentee oncethey are experienced enough. Mentorship ensures that nurses are continually learning from each other and working together towards the ultimate goal of excellent patient care.