Mentoring Nurses for Success: A Global View

Abstract

Special Session presented on: Monday, November 18, 2013: Mentoring will be defined in this presentation, including mentoring within educational and healthcare settings, with a global view on mentoring. Discussion of the challenges within the educational system for students at all levels of their education provides thought for mentoring strategies. Practical advice for both mentors and proteges will be presented, on how to maximize their mentoring experiences in today's climate. TIPS will consist of thoughts, ideas, and presenting strategies specific to each mentoring structure. Faculty members can also benefit from mentoring. Understanding the challenges and having TIPS to negotiate the system, faculty members appreciate the benefit of a mentoring relationship at all stages of their career. In a global context, across cultures, mentoring relationships differ according to the mentor and the proteges understanding of the mentoring process. Nurses benefit from a mentoring relationship in every stage of their education or career. A mentoring relationship is mutually beneficial, and there is an exchange of knowledge and expertise. Mentors provide proteges with personal/emotional support, opportunities for advancement, protection, loyalty, prestige, and role-modeling. The Global Mentoring Process model provides a conceptual framework where a mentoring relationship exists in an environment of respect, trust, and communication. It is a mutually beneficial relationship and challenges the protege. The environment of trust and opportunity for frank open communication assists proteges as they navigate through various systems and cultural influences. Every mentoring relationship is different, as it is unique to the mentor's and proteges experiences and the expressed needs of the protege. The mentoring structure for each dyad depends on their mutually agreed upon goals, and it may change over time. Examples of these mentoring structures include formal, informal, cascade, co-mentoring, coaching, and e-mentoring. The science of nursing provides the dyad with knowledge, information on professional networks, and a perspective necessary to succeed and experience professional and personal growth. As proteges advance in their nursing career they in turn contribute to the informational flow in the science of nursing. Nurses in healthcare settings encounter challenges such as anxiety in their first job or when undertaking a new role within the organization. They benefit from mentors explaining the culture of the organization and being available to communicate regularly as they encounter difficulties or have questions.