Nurse mentorship guide

Whether you’re a new nurse or have years of experience, a mentoring relationship can shape your career, and even change your life.

Why be a nurse mentor?

Sharing your experience with a new nurse can make all the difference to their career and help create a new generation of confident and well-prepared nurses.

Every mentorship is a unique relationship

No two mentees are the same. Get to know them for who they are and what they need, and you’ll be able to build a relationship that’s strong and meaningful for both of you.

See things from your mentee’s perspective

Great mentors put themselves in their mentees’ shoes. So ask questions. Listen closely. Understand their background and culture. Sometimes you may need to read between the lines to get what your mentee is experiencing and where they’re coming from.

Learn from your mentee

You may have decades more experience than your mentee. But you can be sure they’ll bring perspectives and ideas informed by their own unique journey. So look at your mentorship as a rich learning opportunity for you, too.

I’ve served as a mentor to many students and nurses over the years. It’s been very rewarding. I’ve had students that are now faculty members, and that’s very exciting.

Candy

Psychiatric nurse practitioner

5 tips for mentorship succeess

Get started

Starting a new job or career can be much smoother when someone with well-established knowledge and skills shows you the way. Nursing is no exception.

Look for a role model

When you’re thinking about a potential mentor, you’ll obviously want someone you like and look up to. But it can be even better if they have skills that apply to your own career goals.

Set expectations

It will help both you and your mentor if you have a clear idea of what you want from the relationship from the start. It can help shape the way you work and achieve results together.

Work together

Mentorship isn’t something you “get.” It’s something you participate in. Yes, your mentor will share their authority and experience, but the more you put into the relationship, the more you’ll get out of it.

Stay in touch

You’ll probably have more than one mentor in your career, and you’ll learn something different from each one. These can be lifelong relationships, so stay in touch when you’ve changed jobs or been promoted.

Mentorship resources

Here are some places to find more about mentorship.

National Mentoring Partnership: Become or find a mentor in a few easy steps.
Sigma Global Nursing Excellence: Connect and find a mentor within a global community of nurses.

Nursing education Nursing students

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