In every field of expertise, the success of one individual is always attributed to the experience and often times to the mentor. In general speaking and concept, the process of mentoring is one that enables the growth of both, the mentor as well as the mentee. It is then important to enhance this relationship in the field of nursing.
By definition, a mentor is someone who has a good amount of experience in a field and is capable of training and guiding a novice in the same field. Starting off in a new field despite of having the relevant education can be quite intimidating. In a field like nursing, where everything is based on hands-on experience, mentoring is extremely important to success. When there is a mentor to guide you, you will find yourself a little more comfortable and open to the idea of embracing all the experiences that you attain while on the job because you know that someone is always there to back you up and assist you; hence the confidence in higher.
Why is mentoring essential in the field of nursing?
We can say that the purpose of mentoring in the nursing industry has mainly three reasons. First, its importance lies on the truth that it can be a way to attract and retain employees. Second, to enhance employee productivity, and third, to ensure employee satisfaction.
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An ideal mentor is someone who has a suitable amount of relevant work experience, the ability to provide feedback, generate enthusiasm among students, and encourage a positive approach to the field. If your nursing practice is in need of some support when it comes to mentoring, it may be an idea to use a mentoring software for continuous engagement and a low-friction workflow.
This can be further backed up by studies that have been conducted about the relationship between a nursing mentor and a student. It has been found that experienced nurses have had to take on the role of mentoring in addition to their duties, which has become difficult to handle. Moreover, these studies showed that the mentors were willing to give their students due guidance in spite of their demanding jobs. The enthusiasm has been great and has led to the development of a positive relationship between the mentor and the nursing student.
A mentor is expected to perform different roles but the main focus lies on a mentor’s ability to serve as a role model to nursing students. Since there is a shortage of those who can educate in the field of nursing, and hospitals are denying placements to nursing students due to lack of experience and individuals to train them. And to be able to deal with this shortage, employing mentorship strategies in the process of nursing education is perhaps one of the best options that can be utilized.
Indeed, those already in leadership roles should be urged to take on the role of a mentor. This could be handled with patience and the desire to educate, and should create new leaders to take their position. By doing so, the advancement of the health care sector and implementation of better policies in the field of nursing is likely to be realized.
