Mentee Mainline

A Mentor Is a Great Resource for Student Nurses
Jennifer SaoLan Ieong, RN, BSN
Mentee, ONS Student Mentoring Program
Graduate student at the University of Oklahoma in Norman

Jennifer with her mentor, Michele E. Gaguski.

Mentorship in nursing is very significant. I have been an oncology nurse at a metropolitan hospital in Oklahoma for two years and a graduate student at the University of Oklahoma in Norman. In the midst of the stress and multiple dilemmas I encountered at my workplace last fall, I decided that I needed guidance and support from an experienced oncology nurse or an advanced practice nurse (APN). I did not have any mentors to turn to because the hospital where I practice does not have any oncology APNs, and Oklahoma in general has very few oncology APNs. So, I sought help from ONS, where I am a student member. While navigating the ONS Web site, I found out more about the Student Mentoring Program that ONS offers. I was exhilarated that student mentoring was among all of the wonderful benefits that ONS offers to its members. Without hesitation, I completed a mentee form, and within a week I received a positive response from Diedrea White, BA, manager of member relations and diversity initiatives, who stated that she had found a perfect mentor for me through the mentorship program.

My mentor is an APN from New Jersey with 13 years of experience in oncology nursing who has been an ONS member for eight years. She and I began by e-mailing each other to introduce ourselves and exchange contact information. I had a great time getting to know my mentor as a friend. She has provided inspiration and support during the high and low points of my profession. She is patient in dealing with my gripes, encourages me to plan new experiences, gives me time, and helps to accomplish tasks at hand. Her readiness in answering questions and uncertainties that I have about my practice is what I appreciate most. Her enthusiasm in guiding me in a positive manner is what I desire to emulate.

Who needs a mentor? Orientee, novice, advanced beginner, expert, life-long learner, and seeker. What is a mentor? A mentor is a sounding board, joint problem solver, ratifier, mirror, coach, referee, advocate, connector, emphathizer, and guide (Snell, 1999). A mentor is an experienced and trusted advisor and coach. As an advisor, a mentor helps students to plan their work. As a coach, a mentor teaches, trains, and infuses knowledge and skills to others. Mentors are ambitious, competent, caring, intelligent, humorous, visionary, honest, supportive, inspiring, straightforward, creative, reliable, independent, and motivating. They are responsible for establishing ground rules, fostering trust, following up, leading, encouraging, advising, questioning, challenging, and motivating the mentee (Fawcett, 2002). Mentees, on the other hand, are students or seekers who desire to learn, have specific goals in mind, and demonstrate interests in professional and academic growth.

The concept of mentoring is not new to nursing. Mentoring promotes the psychosocial and instrumental development of novice nurses or advanced beginners over an extended period of time. The psychosocial role of a mentor promotes acceptance, confirmation, and role acquisition in the individual being mentored. The instrumental role of a mentor involves coaching, teaching, and believing firmly in the mentee’s ability to succeed (Gordon, 2000). Mentoring has been an effective strategy in many disciplines, including all of the health professions, to develop expertise and leadership within the profession.

Six essential attributes of mentoring have been identified from the literature: teaching-learning process, reciprocal role, career development relationship, knowledge differential between participants, duration of several years, and resonance (Stewart & Krueger, 1996). To have a successful mentor-mentee relationship, both parties must be committed to the professional growth of the mentee and the relationship must be nurturing. Acceptance and trust are crucial ingredients to the growth of the relationship.

Why is this important to you as an oncology nurse or a nursing student? A mentor can help you with any difficulties as you make your way through nursing school and in your career. Mentorship can help you to develop the insight and self-awareness that integrate your professional life, personal concerns, and core values. Mentorship can be a long- or short-term investment, a single action or an agreed-upon plan. The success of the mentoring relationship depends on the commitment that the mentors and mentees are willing to make in meeting the challenges and capitalizing on the opportunities.

Nursing is more of an art than a science; it needs to be learned through observing and mentoring. I hope that this article will stimulate readers’ interests in the ONS Student Mentoring Program as they aim for profession enhancement in the specialty of oncology.

References
Fawcett, D.L. (2002). Mentoring: What it is and how to make it work? AORN Journal, 75, 950–954.

Gordon, P. (2000). The road to success with a mentor. Journal of Vascular Nursing, 18(1), 30–33.

Snell, J. (1999). Mentoring: Head to head. Health Services Journal, 109, 22–25.

Stewart, B.M., & Krueger, L.E. (1996). An evolutionary concept analysis of mentoring in nursing. Journal of Professional Nursing, 12, 311–321.

Find your mentor!

Experienced oncology nurses are standing by to help you chart your course in your chosen profession. Sign up today to be mentored by someone who not only knows, but cares.