Please mentor me! Don’t just orient me.

—Joanie

Think about the role of mentoring in nursing. Describe an incident that reflects your ideas about what you need from a mentor as you move to a new role as clinical nurse educator.

As I seriously, yet cautiously, consider becoming a clinical nurse educator, I realize that there will be a multitude of skills, competencies, and educational-related “tasks” that I will have to master. Some components of clinical teaching will be easier to learn than others.… There will be many (I pray) who will step up to the plate and orient me. These folks will tell me how to keep accurate records, where to submit grades, how to contact clinical site coordinators, where to make copies of hand-outs, and so on. They will answer my questions and make sure that I follow policies and procedures so that I am compliant with the ways of the teaching world. Those that orient me will play an integral part in my success as a new clinical educator and I will greatly appreciate their efforts. However, I know that I will want (and need) ongoing support, encouragement, and expert guidance along my career journey. I will surely need a mentor.

A mentor will not be “assigned” to me. I will seek out someone whom I trust, respect, and who has expertise in the clinical education arena. Ideally, this person will also choose me, and a collaborative working and social relationship will ensue. I want my mentor to back me up when I’m right and offer constructive criticism when I’m wrong and “way off base.” I need this person to be brutally honest with me when I veer from my set goals, so that I can continue to improve and grow positively in my profession. I also would like this person to feel so inclined to hug me when I’m ready to “throw in the towel” or laugh with me over my silly mistakes. As an added bonus, I would like this person to become a lifelong friend.

I get so sidetracked. There is so much going on, so many student needs I have to tend to, and so much I have to remember—not to mention the patient issues. I don’t know how to organize all of it, and some days—no, most days—I just want to quit. I feel so out of sorts! And you know what makes me feel the worst? I am not a good role model for the students like this.

The role of mentoring is crucial in nurse success. While most of us have worked with or as preceptors, the role of a mentor differs, in that it imposes less structure and is a fluid role, versus guidance over a set period of time. While many hospitals, such as my own, have implemented formal mentoring programs, I feel that the role of a mentor is one that develops through a process. Sometimes the best mentors are not those who we have defined as a resource person or expert, but someone who provides us guidance and support and understands our current situation.

Such is the role of a mentor—to challenge the novice to adapt the skills and critical thinking needed to succeed in a new role.

Although I am just beginning my journey into the clinical nurse educator role, I am in need of a mentor who will both guide me along my education and transition me into a teaching role…ease me into this new role, appreciate my talents and [the] abilities I bring with me, and challenge me to work hard. I function best under someone who is strict, pushes me to my limit, but gives me positive feedback when I have succeeded. For me, a mentor does not do the work for me, but shows me how to do it, employs creative ways to pass along knowledge, and takes the time to hear my frustrations, complaints, or achievements. Because a mentor is a less defined role than a preceptor, I feel this person can also serve as a friend and should feel that they can gain from my knowledge and skill as well.

Now that I am embarking on the educator role, I know that I will be a novice and that there will be a new learning curve to gain expertise in the education arena. My biggest concern is not having a mentor in place for me, to help me learn and grow from discussions and feedback. There is a definite fear of being incompetent and not doing a good job even though I teach formally and informally in my occupation now.

Studies have shown that effective mentoring can make the difference between students’ and novice nurses’ decision to stay in nursing and find fulfillment, or become disillusioned and leave the profession.

Thus was the case for me when as a student I was hired 30 years ago as a full-time summer patient care technician during my senior year in nursing school. The staff nurse that was assigned to orient me, a relatively new nurse herself, showed me what to do during patient care assignments and after 2 weeks I was basically left to my own devices. Externally I looked like I was doing alright, but inside I was terrified and I was acutely anxious that I would make a mistake. After 4 weeks, the nurse that was supposed to supervise me co-signed my charts without actually observing my work. Soon I found myself giving medications, including IV meds and narcotics, changing dressings, and giving multiple patient treatments. Despite the fact that I seemed to be able to handle assignments, inside I was totally overwhelmed and seriously doubted that I could do this kind of work as a career. No one noticed my insecurities except for Sara, the head nurse who became my informal mentor. Besides her busy schedule, she took me under her wings and showed me the caring aspect of patient care. From her example, I learned how important it is to truly connect with patients. She took her time listening to their concerns.… She also took the time to listen to my fears and concerns. When she discovered how insecure I actually was about my nursing care ability, she made sure to be there for me as a resource and support.

I learned from her also the importance of team work and camaraderie. She set the example by answering call lights whenever available, following through with whatever the patient requested or needed. Her role modeling enabled me to increase my confidence—not only in my ability to care for patients, but also in how to prioritize care. I sought her out whenever I could and she always took the time to teach me skills I wanted to master, as well as teach me rationale behind nursing practice. I never forget how she let me start IVs in her arm, despite that fact that it took several attempts. By the time I finished nursing school and passed my boards, I had discovered the “joy of nursing” and continued working at the same institution.

The lessons I learned from Sara’s mentoring have stayed with me throughout my nursing career.… Mentoring should not be seen as a duty, but as a work of love to train the next generation of competent and caring clinical nurses.