Mentorship

Mentorship

According to many journal articles, one of the most important factors contributing to the success of a new nurse is whether or not they have a mentor. It’s undeniably true that new nursing graduates need someone to counsel, make recommendations, guide, and even deliver constructive criticism to make for a successful transition into the nursing workplace. What are your thoughts on Mentors and Mentorship?

 

1. What's a good reason to have a mentor?

2. Is a mentor the same person as your preceptor/orientator? Explain your answer.

3. How did you go about finding your mentor (that person you could trust, learn from, and ask questions)?

4. What if you were in a new job and couldn't find that person to officially "mentor" you, what would you do?

5. Complete these sentences.

 

• My mentors qualities that I most admired were...
• The would always...
• They should never...

6. Who is better at mentoring, a nurse who has been in the profession for ions or a nurse who has only been at it for several years?

7. We all know that "someone" on the unit who is a great nurse but a bad teacher. Tell of a specific incident.

8. Did you and would you recommend getting in touch with other new nurses to develop some sort of "support group"?

 

 

 

Comments

[LCC]

1. What's a good reason to have a mentor?
Since you can only perform about 30% of what your supposed to right out of nursing school it's a good idea to get someone to show you the other 70%.

2. Is a mentor the same person as your preceptor/orientator? Explain your answer.
NO! I disagree with anyone who says yes. My orientator was obligated to work with me and we clashed 100% of the orientation. I was always too slow, too fast, too forward, too soft spoken... always not enough something.

3. But how did you go about finding your mentor (that person you could trust, learn from, and ask questions)?
No mentor for me so see answer to question 4.

4. What if you were in a new job and couldn't find that person to officially "mentor" you, what would you do?
I gleened knowledge and "know-how" from my various co-workers. I only asked them questions in small doses though, you don't want to wear out one of your sources.

5. Complete these sentences.
•My mentors (in my case many co-workers)qualities that I most admired were that they were patient and nonjudgemental

•The would always stop to help me or atleast tell me "in a minute"

•They should never, roll their eyes at you like you're an inconvenience

6. Who is better at mentoring, a nurse who has been in the profession for ions or a nurse who has only been at it for several years?
I would like the one who has been at it for years but they could be bitter and the newer one could be on her game but lack of experience is a downside. I say pick the one who is good and willing to teach!

7. We all know that "someone" on the unit who is a great nurse but a bad teacher. Tell of a specific incident.
My orientator perceived me as a 'know-it-all' cause I would never need help in the times she offered it to me but in the times that I did need help she would say, "well you should know that, you know everything else..."

8. On developing a good support base, did you and would you recommend getting in touch with other new nurses?
absolutely, I found comfort in knowing I wasn't the only one struggling.

[Andrea]

I also always wanted to be a nurse. I said I would be a nurse when I was 3 years old and I never said another thing. So I went to school and do this. When I graduated and got a job on a very busy Med Surg floor, I was shocked how different it was than in nursing school. There are so many things that you have to learn on your own, time management, the people you feel comfortable asking for help, what to do in an emergency, how to talk to doctors, how to talk to families, and many more things. The one thing I learned was that it take 6 months to 1 year to really figure out how to plan your day.

Most new nurses walk onto a floor and don't know the staff, so they rely on their nurse manager to them up with a mentor. Most of the time this will work out. Not always. I think if you are a new nurse and you aren't finding a mentor helpful or understand it is OK to ask for someone else.

[Linda Cantillon]

To all New Nurses beginning their Career as a Nurse: I would like to give you a few words of wisdom. I wanted to be a Nurse since I can remember. A Caregiver from the beginning. It is the hardest and most rewarding job you can have. First of all you have to a have a sense of humor and a kind of go with the flow attitude. It can save you. Nothing will ever be the same way twice and just when you think you have it figured out, It will change. It is also important for you to be strong and firm, yet completely understanding to the patient and his family. Nursing is a steady job that will allow you to care for your family and you will always have a job. I have been nursing for 21 years and I still learn things everyday. Be open to learning new things and be caring. REMEMBER IT IS ALWAYS CHANGING! Lean on each other and utilize your resources. Always ask questions and don't be afraid. Listen to yourself and if is doesn't seem right ask!! God Bless you in your Education. You are in for the ride of your life.