The Importance of Mentoring
2018; Wiley; Volume: 108; Issue: 4 Linguagem: Inglês
10.1002/aorn.12386
ISSN1878-0369
Autores Tópico(s)Perfectionism, Procrastination, Anxiety Studies
ResumoAORN JournalVolume 108, Issue 4 p. 354-356 EditorialFree Access The Importance of Mentoring Laurie Saletnik DNP, RN, CNOR, Laurie Saletnik DNP, RN, CNOR Editor-in-ChiefSearch for more papers by this author Laurie Saletnik DNP, RN, CNOR, Laurie Saletnik DNP, RN, CNOR Editor-in-ChiefSearch for more papers by this author First published: 28 September 2018 https://doi.org/10.1002/aorn.12386Citations: 4AboutSectionsPDF ToolsRequest permissionExport citationAdd to favoritesTrack citation ShareShare Give accessShare full text accessShare full-text accessPlease review our Terms and Conditions of Use and check box below to share full-text version of article.I have read and accept the Wiley Online Library Terms and Conditions of UseShareable LinkUse the link below to share a full-text version of this article with your friends and colleagues. Learn more.Copy URL Share a linkShare onFacebookTwitterLinkedInRedditWechat Recently, I attended a professional meeting at which we recognized the retirement of a nursing colleague. As people stood to say a few words about this nursing leader, one of the qualities that was repeatedly highlighted was her ability to act as a positive role model and mentor to others. It was remarkable how many nurses, as well as other professional colleagues, had considered this leader to be their mentor over the years and the influence she had on their professional development and careers. This celebration of a distinguished career reminded me that, as nurses, we can and should look for every opportunity to mentor colleagues, both informally and through structured mentoring programs. WHAT IS MENTORING? Mentoring is a process of teaching, providing advice and emotional support, and nurturing and maintaining a relationship that extends over time.1 The word mentor has its roots in Greek mythology. In Homer's Odyssey, because Odysseus was away for many years fighting in the Trojan war, his son Telemachus was left under the guidance of a trusted friend, Mentor. Mentor's role was to prepare Telemachus to assume responsibility for his family while Odysseus was away.2 This reference is apparent in the definition of mentor according to Merriam-Webster: "a trusted counselor or guide."3 In its active form, mentor means "to teach or give advice or guidance to a less experienced person."3 The purpose of mentoring includes fostering lifelong learning, employee satisfaction and engagement, career advancement, and succession planning.4 Mentoring success is dependent on the quality of the mentoring relationship, which in turn depends on the personal connection between mentor and mentee.5 Mentoring relationships are based on trust; mutual respect; and the ability to provide open, honest feedback.6 Studies show that even the most well-designed mentoring programs are no substitute for a genuine, collaborative relationship.5, 7 There is no definitive timeframe within which the mentoring relationship exists. As long as the mentor and the mentee perceive value in the experience, it will continue.6 In many cases, mentoring relationships last a lifetime. In addition, multiple mentoring relationships can exist simultaneously and serve different needs for both the mentor and mentee. Each new mentoring relationship developed during the course of a career adds value. IMPORTANT QUALITIES in A MENTOR The mentor can be defined as an experienced individual who guides a novice member's transition to a new culture and the expectations of a new role.8 A mentor is a teacher, coach, counselor, guide, role model, resource, and facilitator.1, 6 Nurses who care and offer wisdom to other nurses are mentoring, perhaps without even realizing the role they are playing.9 One of the most important aspects of the mentor role is demonstrating skills and qualities to emulate.9 Role modeling such behaviors as speaking up with confidence when there is a safety-related concern in the OR or going out of one's way to welcome a new member into a group are important examples of how we can instill confidence in those starting out in perioperative services. A mentor models communication skills, emotional intelligence, political savvy, teamwork, preparation for taking on challenging assignments, and interaction with executives.10 Some of the most desired traits in a mentor include approachability, supportiveness, and friendliness.1 The ability of the mentor to recall how it felt to be new to perioperative nursing practice is helpful to create empathy for the mentee and understand the challenges of taking on a new role. Mentors support professional socialization and networking by helping to create a sense of belonging.4, 5 Mentors often teach from personal experience that is not included in the didactic component of education. Sharing experiences, both those that have been successful and those that did not produce the desired results, provides insight to less experienced colleagues and instills a sense of permission to try new things and not fear failure. A mentor encourages a mentee to take on challenges that will develop new skills and provide exposure to senior leaders.7 The best mentors go beyond teaching competency and help to shape the mentee's self-awareness, empathy, and capacity for respect.8 BENEFITS OF MENTORING According to the 2010 Institute of Medicine report on the future of nursing, mentoring is an effective way to strengthen the nursing workforce and improve the quality of care and patient outcomes.11 The benefits of creating mentoring relationships with less experienced nurses include fostering leadership skills that will propel nurses to roles that provide the opportunity to influence the health care delivery system and environment; encouraging continual professional growth that can improve engagement, thereby retaining nurses and decreasing the financial burden of employee turnover; increasing the diversity of the profession, which can help lessen health disparities; and strengthening the profession and improving patient outcomes.4, 11, 12 A positive mentoring relationship can benefit the mentee by maximizing learning, improving proficiency, increasing confidence, facilitating personal and professional growth, and providing an introduction to new experiences and professional colleagues.1, 6 CONCLUSION A mentoring culture begins with authentic leadership, genuine caring and respect for employees and colleagues, and open communication. Mentoring does not occur exclusively in structured, formal mentoring programs between leaders and staff nurses. Opportunities for mentoring present themselves in a variety of ways and can be deliberate or develop spontaneously. In any public or professional forum, there will be others who are looking to the more experienced members of the group for guidance on the professional norms. You may find the opportunity to mentor others at professional meetings and conferences in addition to the work environment. Nurses must take ownership of their role in mentoring and promoting a culture of acceptance.8 Mentoring will help us to strengthen the nursing workforce, creating positive leaders and contributing to better patient care and outcomes. Finding ways to give back to the profession is important for each of us, and mentoring offers one such avenue. It is a way for each of us to leave a legacy, a positive contribution to the profession of nursing and the perioperative environment. Biography Laurie Saletnik, DNP, RN, CNOR, is the Editor-in-Chief of the AORN Journal and the senior director of Nursing, Perioperative Services at the Johns Hopkins Hospital, Baltimore, MD. Dr Saletnik has no declared affiliation that could be perceived as posing a potential conflict of interest in the publication of this article. REFERENCES 1Mijares L, Baxley SM, Bond ML. Mentoring: a concept analysis. J Theory Constr Test. 2013; 17(1): 23- 28. 2 Word "mentor" originates from Homer. History Disclosure. https://www.historydisclosure.com/word-mentor-originates-homer/. Accessed July 23, 2018. 3 Definition of mentor. Merriam-Webster. https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/mentor. Accessed July 23, 2018. 4Jakubik LD, Weese MM, Eliades AB, Huth JJ. Mentoring in the career continuum of a nurse: clarifying purpose and timing. Pediatr Nurs. 2017; 43(3): 149- 152. 5Lin J, Chew YR, Toh YP, Radha Krishna LK. Mentoring in nursing: an integrative review of commentaries, editorials, and perspectives papers. Nurse Educ. 2018; 43(1): E1- E5. 6Hnatiuk CN. Mentoring nurses toward success. Minority Nurse. https://minoritynurse.com/mentoring-nurses-toward-success/. Published March 30, 2013. Accessed July 23, 2018. 7Hulton LJ, Sawin EM, Trimm D, Graham A, Powell N. An evidence-based nursing faculty mentoring program. Int J Nurs Educ. 2016; 8(1): 41- 46. 8Bally JM. The role of nursing leadership in creating a mentoring culture in acute care environments. Nurs Econ. 2007; 25(3): 143- 148. 9Frederick D. Bullying, mentoring, and patient care. AORN J. 2014; 99(5): 587- 593. 10Eliades AB, Jakubik LD, Weese MM, Huth JJ. Mentoring practice and mentoring benefit 6: equipping for leadership and leadership readiness—an overview and application to practice using mentoring activities. Pediatr Nurs. 2017; 43(1): 40- 42. 11 Committee on the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation Initiative on the Future of Nursing, at the Institute of Medicine; Institute of Medicine. The Future of Nursing: Leading Change, Advancing Health. Washington DC: The National Academies Press; 2010. http://nationalacademies.org/hmd/reports/2010/the-future-of-nursing-leading-change-advancing-health.aspx. Accessed July 23, 2018. 12 Mentoring in nursing: a boon to nurses and patients. Robert Wood Johnson Foundation. https://www.rwjf.org/en/library/articles-and-news/2013/01/mentoring--a-boon-to-nurses--the-nursing-profession--and-patient.html. Published January 10, 2013. Accessed July 23, 2018. Citing Literature Volume108, Issue4October 2018Pages 354-356 ReferencesRelatedInformation
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