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Nurse Academy Mentorship Program
Purpose
The purpose of the Nurse Academy Mentorship Program is to provide a communication link and mentoring for Nurse Academy participants with a professional nurse regarding nursing as a career.
Objectives
To provide information about nursing regarding:
- The mentor’s career-how it began and progressed, job responsibilities early in the career compared with present responsibilities, typical career paths
- The mentor’s professional and or community involvement
- How to start a career-advice about gathering career information, networking, search tools/techniques and professional development.
To offer encouragement to Nurse Academy participants as they finish high school, throughout college and move into the nursing profession.
To develop supportive and encouraging relationships between student and professional nurse with the goal of maintaining interest and achievement of goals necessary for a career in nursing.
Mentor Qualifications
- Communicates well and is successful in building caring relationships
- Passionate about nursing as a career
- Is professional, respectful, and supportive
- Trustworthy, honest and ethical
Expectations of the Mentor
- Shares his/her career path, present job, and roles
- Contacts parents as appropriate. Gets permission from parents if mentor/student wish to meet other than telephone or e-mail (if student is a minor)
- Answers questions and offers advice regarding school issues related to nursing
- Commits to the mentor role for a set period of time determined by mentor and student
- Provides encouragement, guidance and advice
Other
- The mentor and the student will determine needs and time needed for the mentor relationship.
- The mentor and student determine means of communication (e-mail, phone, in-person)
- Any in-person meetings must be arranged with parents (if student is a minor)
- The relationship is reciprocal and must be maintained by both parties. If either party is unable to continue the relationship, they should communicate this to the other party and to the Mentor Coordinator.
- The Mentor Coordinator may communicate with either party to evaluate the program.
Reference:
- Pinkerton, S. (2003). Mentoring new graduates. Nursing Economics, 24, 4, pp. 202-203.
- Reeves, K.A. (December 2004). Nurses nurturing nurses a mentoring program. Nurse Leader, pp. 47-53.
- Restifo, V. and Yodger, L. (2004). Partnership: making the most of mentoring. Nurse Week, April 26, 2004, pp. 28-32.
- Pinkerton, S. (2003). Mentoring new graduates. Nursing Economics, 24, 4, pp. 202-203.
