Mentoring nurses is an important part of the development, adjustment, success, and critical thinking among new nurses, nursing students, and nurses new to an organization. The Covid-19 pandemic has brought a new emphasis to mentoring, as the healthcare delivery system has experienced a tremendous turnover resulting in a huge influx of new staff at every level.

Evidence shows that implementing effective nurse mentorship programs can impact our profession by empowering nurses to make confident, well-informed decisions regarding patient care. It also improves their overall job satisfaction and creates a long-term commitment to high-level professional development. 

Ultimately, strong, effective mentorship leads to higher-quality patient care that results in better patient outcomes. Being an effective mentor is an acquired skill that not everyone possesses, and can be extremely challenging especially in times of great stress as has been experienced during the pandemic.

Nurses everywhere should feel vested in the future of nursing, and the best way to do this is through mentoring nurses and nursing students. As we are experiencing the most significant nursing shortage of our lifetimes, now more than ever nurses should feel mentored and supported by their peers.

This also means seasoned nurses should mentor each other, as well as mentor new nurses and student nurses. This also raises a tremendous challenge, as many nurses are struggling to remain present and engaged in their profession. Being open and available mentally and emotionally to mentor others is difficult at best as a nurse, let alone during these demanding times.

Record turnover rates among nurses are another critical warning that we need to invest in our new and existing nurses to ensure they acclimate and remain engaged and are prepared to provide exceptional care for our patients.

Mentoring relationships should be established with a mutual connection, in which the mentor and mentee both feel comfortable with each other. This lays the groundwork for a meaningful relationship where mutual goals are met and a shared plan of what the mentoring relationship involves.

This could be being available as a resource during shifts and/or clinicals. This could also be a weekly check-in over lunch, coffee, or the phone. This may also be sending a quick text or email expressing a job well done, sharing relevant clinical information, or just a hi I’m thinking of you I know you’re having a tough week message.

These simple ways of connecting are invaluable and can be a great source of strength and resilience to nurses and nursing students as they maneuver the newness of being a nurse, a new clinical setting, or adjust to a new organization or role. Mentoring relationships among seasoned nurses are also incredibly important to facilitate professional development and nursing leadership. Encouraging each other as we seek professional growth and accept leadership challenges is an important way we can assure the future and progression of our profession.

As we continue to maneuver these challenging times, nurses everywhere must remain motivated and moved to support and encourage our new nurses, nursing students, and each other through mentoring to ensure the future and success of our profession. As retention issues continue to affect the nursing field, mentorship programs empower nurses to innovate and deepen engagement with their day-to-day work, which translates to high-quality patient care.

The importance of a nurturing, supportive, and innovative mindset in nursing school and while working within the healthcare delivery system is critical. To continue to develop and support nursing innovation throughout a nurse’s career is something that needs to be fostered through mentoring. The health and well-being of the entire world depend on us.