Mentoring

Mentoring is a process in which an experienced individual helps another person develop his or her goals and skills. In nursing, mentoring helps the novice nurse orient and acclimate in their new roles. Through mentoring, individuals are able to gain knowledge, insights, and skills, to help in achieving professional as well as personal goals. Mentoring supports, guides, and motivates individuals to maximize their potential to succeed. Through mentoring, individuals can obtain assistance with exploring careers, setting goals, and identifying pertinent resources. The mentoring role may change as the needs of the mentee change. Some mentoring relationships are part of a structured program that have specific expectations, while others are more informal.

American Psychological Association lists characteristics of effective mentoring to include the ability and willingness to: value the mentee as a person; develop mutual trust and respect; maintain confidentiality; listen both to what is being said and how it is being said; help the mentee solve his or her own problem, rather than give direction; focus on the mentee's development and resist the urge to produce a clone.

Additionally, an influential mentor should: approach each mentorship differently; determine goals or objectives collaboratively in the very beginning; have a vested interest in the mentee as a person; gauge when to give advice; ask questions instead of assuming; and never assume anything about your mentee, ask. 

Mentees are not the only people who benefit from mentoring. Mentors also may simultaneously improve their own skills. Mentoring is important, not only because of the knowledge and skills learnt, but also because mentoring provides personal support to facilitate success, and is a great way to give back. Finally, pursuing mentoring shows growth, and should not evoke feelings of inadequacy.

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