As I reflect on my journey in nursing, one thing stands out above all: the profound impact of mentorship. From the early days of uncertainty to the moments of triumph, having a mentor by my side has been transformative. My mentors have guided me through clinical challenges, offered insights into the nuances of the profession, and most importantly, helped me navigate the delicate balance between personal aspirations and professional growth.
Mentorship extends far beyond mere career advice; it creates a safe space for exploration, learning, and growth. Having someone in your corner to celebrate victories and offer support during setbacks is invaluable. Mentorship is a dynamic and mutually beneficial relationship between an experienced and knowledgeable individual (the mentor) and a less experienced or novice individual (the mentee), aimed at providing guidance, support, and professional development opportunities to the mentee. Mentorship involves sharing knowledge, experiences, and insights to help the mentee navigate challenges, develop skills, and achieve goals. One of the characteristics that is often neglected in a mentoring experience is reciprocity—the notion that both the mentee and mentor receive benefits in the relationship.
I never planned to be a nurse; I aspired to become a pediatrician. Yet the stars aligned and brought me to nursing. As I reflect on my path, I recognize the influence of formal and informal mentors in my life— the first ones being my immigrant parents. My father, a respected professor immersed in research, and my mother, a dedicated nurse juggling multiple jobs, exemplified the importance of diligence and perseverance. These observations unknowingly instilled the notion of hard work in me.
Observing my parents navigate their respective careers, I often pondered whether their path would have been smoother with guidance and support. Could they have achieved their goals more easily with someone empowering them along the way? While I can't say for certain, this contemplation started my mentorship journey. I utilized much of my graduate work to understand how mentorship could help to retain new graduate nurses particularly during their first year, mostly because I had the best unit manager/mentor a new graduate nurse could ask for. Pat, we all called her, supported me both personally and professionally.
After relocating to Dallas upon completing my BSN degree, I found myself navigating the complexities of adapting to a new city while embarking on my journey as a novice nurse. Amidst this transition, away from the familiar comfort of family and friends, Pat’s mentorship was invaluable in guiding me through the early stages of my nursing career.
Pat's approach was one of nurturing growth while offering unwavering support, allowing me the space to flourish as a nurse while prioritizing the importance of family. In a healthcare environment often fraught with pressure and demands, Pat's emphasis on the principle of "family first" provided me with a sense of balance and perspective.
As I reflect on our journey together, I recognize the significance of maintaining the human aspect of nursing amidst the ongoing challenges of effective staffing and fostering a positive work environment. Pat's unwavering support extended beyond professional milestones; she celebrated my accomplishments, including the attainment of my master's degree, with genuine pride.
This experience led me to ponder the impact of having a mentor like Pat for new nurses embarking on their own professional journeys. I couldn't help but wonder how such guidance and support could mitigate unnecessary hardships, empowering new nurses to realize their full potential and pursue their dreams with confidence and resilience.
Embarking on my journey into academia was marked by uncertainty, a lack of knowledge, and a notable absence of guidance. Initially, pursuing my doctorate seemed like a means to acquire knowledge and find direction independently. However, as my academic path unfolded, it led me to delve deeper into the realm of mentorship and its profound impact on the retention of Black nursing faculty, particularly within Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs).
Recognizing the historical underfunding of HBCUs and the potential lack of professional development opportunities for faculty, my research was born from personal experiences at the start of my academic journey. I yearned for someone who could provide the necessary support and guidance to navigate this unfamiliar terrain successfully.
My commitment to mentorship transcends personal fulfillment, as I would intentionally seek more ways to create meaningful mentorship programs that address specific needs within the nursing community. In my role as a nurse educator, I established a peer-to-peer formal mentoring program tailored to student nurses, particularly those from underrepresented backgrounds facing academic challenges. Understanding the importance of support for professional nurses, especially in the wake of the pandemic, I initiated a formal mentoring program during my tenure as president of the Louisiana State Nurses Association.
Furthermore, my participation in the American Association of Colleges of Nursing (AACN) Diversity Leadership Institute provided me with the platform to develop a mentor training aimed at fostering inclusive mentoring experiences. By leveraging the diverse backgrounds of mentees, a mentor can create supportive environments where individuals (mentees) feel acknowledged and empowered.
Most recently, I had the privilege of contributing to the American Nurses Association MZ Advisory Group, focusing on the unique challenges faced by millennial and Generation Z nurses. Through this experience, I gained invaluable insights into the significance of mentorship for our newest generations of nurses, who often grapple with feelings of isolation and undervaluation in the workplace. Reflecting on the importance of mentoring the future generation of nurses, I am reminded of the following key considerations.
Knowledge transfer
Creating space for knowledge transfer is essential. Experienced nurses possess a wealth of knowledge, skills, and insights that they can impart to new nurses. This exchange not only helps newcomers navigate the intricacies of the profession more adeptly but also fosters their career development.
Career development
Mentoring plays an important role in career development. It offers new nurses guidance and support in setting career goals, exploring specialties, and advancing professionally. Mentors serve as invaluable resources, providing advice on career paths, facilitating networking, and identifying professional development opportunities.
Skill development and confidence
Mentors play a hands-on role in skill development. They nurture clinical expertise, critical thinking, and problem-solving through practical experience, feedback, and exemplary behavior. Their presence offers encouragement, reassurance, and constructive criticism, bolstering the confidence of novice nurses as they confront the challenges of their early careers.
Professional support
Beyond skill development, mentors act as advocates for new nurses, assisting them in navigating workplace issues, ethical quandaries, and professional hurdles. They offer insights into organizational culture and facilitate integration into healthcare teams.
Job satisfaction and increased retention
Research indicates that effective mentorship correlates with higher job satisfaction, increased retention rates, and overall career contentment among new nurses. Consequently, mentoring programs not only mitigate turnover but also cultivate a positive work environment conducive to professional growth and fulfillment.
Through mentorship, I've found the courage to explore new specialties, embrace leadership roles, and push beyond my comfort zone. It's a journey of continuous learning and self-discovery that has shaped my career and enriched my perspective on life. I am committed to creating mentoring experiences, particularly for the future generation of nursing.
Benita N. Chatmon, PhD, MSN, RN, CNE, is the assistant dean for clinical nursing education at Louisiana State University Health Sciences Center – New Orleans School of Nursing. She is a member of Sigma's Tau Pi and Epsilon Nu at-Large Chapters.