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The rewards of mentorship
GUEST EIZ) The
AL
ewards of Mentorsh p
All of us have been mentored throughout our lives. Parents, teachers, and peers have all been influential in our development. Throughout m y nursing career, I have been fortunate to have had some memorable preceptors, and I too have realized m y love for educating others through precepting. Within the last 5 years of m y ET practice, I ha~e found immense joy in mentoring students. Through mentorship, I can change, improve, and never stagnate. Holloran 1 states that a mentor guides, coaches, and advises less-experienced persons. There is a further differentiation between primary and secondary mentorship. In addition to a background of clinical expertise, a primary mentor adds intense commitment and strong belief in the prot6g6. A secondary mentor is defined as a role model or preceptor who has the clinical expertise but not the same degree of emotional commitment. When mentoring is effective, the prot6g6 gains self-confidence and inspiration. The student realizes, through the actions of the mentor, that he or she is worth the investment, gaining a strong power of self-belief. It is important for a mentor to provide opportunities that allow the prot6g6 to show what he or she can do. While gathering m y thoughts for this editorial, I went to the N e w Orleans Museum of Arf and experienced an exhibit by a N e w Orleans artist and teacher, Pat Trivigno. This showing was titled "The Search for Inner Form." As I was listening to a taped interview with this artistic mentor, z I related his feelings about art to m y own about mentoring. He spoke of
understanding a sense of place, and what occurs in that place. He reminded me that I have to make excitement h a p p e n and convey that energy to the learner. Another major positive influence in m y nursing career these last few years has been my mentor. I could not write about the joys of mentorship without mentioning her. I have always loved mentoring because of the opportunity to integrate clinical expertise and education. My mentor has helped me crystallize a deeper appreciation of mentorship. She is a dedicated nursing leader who took the time to understand ET nursing when I first became part of her hospital product line, Rehabilitative Services. She allowed me to grow and was always encouraging and enthusiastic about new ET ventures. She was a champion of our causes and engineered the expansion of our department. One of her strengths was her visionary ability, which guided her to always place ET nursing in the right niche. Mentoring permeated her management style, and I am better for having been her employee. She is leaving for new opportunities, but she has had such a strong influence on every aspect of m y career that I am honored to dedicate this guest editorial to m y dear mentor, Peggy Green.
Bernadette Cullen, RN, MSN, CETN
Ms. Cullen is clinical nurse specialist/ET nurse, East Jefferson General Hospital, Metairie, Louisiana. Reprint requests: Bernadette Cullen, RN, MSN, CETN, East Jefferson General Hospital, 4200 Houma Blvd., Metairie, LA 70001.
REFERENCES
J WOCN 1996;23:1
I. Holloran SD. Mentoring: the experience of nursing service executives. J Nurs Admin
1993;23(2):49-54.
Copyright © 1996 by the Wound, Ostomy and Continence Nurses Society.
2. Trivigno P. The search for inner form [Taped interview]. New Orleans: New Orleans Museum of Art. 1994.
21/9/69152
1071-5754/96 $5.00+ 0
AL
ewards of Mentorsh p
All of us have been mentored throughout our lives. Parents, teachers, and peers have all been influential in our development. Throughout m y nursing career, I have been fortunate to have had some memorable preceptors, and I too have realized m y love for educating others through precepting. Within the last 5 years of m y ET practice, I ha~e found immense joy in mentoring students. Through mentorship, I can change, improve, and never stagnate. Holloran 1 states that a mentor guides, coaches, and advises less-experienced persons. There is a further differentiation between primary and secondary mentorship. In addition to a background of clinical expertise, a primary mentor adds intense commitment and strong belief in the prot6g6. A secondary mentor is defined as a role model or preceptor who has the clinical expertise but not the same degree of emotional commitment. When mentoring is effective, the prot6g6 gains self-confidence and inspiration. The student realizes, through the actions of the mentor, that he or she is worth the investment, gaining a strong power of self-belief. It is important for a mentor to provide opportunities that allow the prot6g6 to show what he or she can do. While gathering m y thoughts for this editorial, I went to the N e w Orleans Museum of Arf and experienced an exhibit by a N e w Orleans artist and teacher, Pat Trivigno. This showing was titled "The Search for Inner Form." As I was listening to a taped interview with this artistic mentor, z I related his feelings about art to m y own about mentoring. He spoke of
understanding a sense of place, and what occurs in that place. He reminded me that I have to make excitement h a p p e n and convey that energy to the learner. Another major positive influence in m y nursing career these last few years has been my mentor. I could not write about the joys of mentorship without mentioning her. I have always loved mentoring because of the opportunity to integrate clinical expertise and education. My mentor has helped me crystallize a deeper appreciation of mentorship. She is a dedicated nursing leader who took the time to understand ET nursing when I first became part of her hospital product line, Rehabilitative Services. She allowed me to grow and was always encouraging and enthusiastic about new ET ventures. She was a champion of our causes and engineered the expansion of our department. One of her strengths was her visionary ability, which guided her to always place ET nursing in the right niche. Mentoring permeated her management style, and I am better for having been her employee. She is leaving for new opportunities, but she has had such a strong influence on every aspect of m y career that I am honored to dedicate this guest editorial to m y dear mentor, Peggy Green.
Bernadette Cullen, RN, MSN, CETN
Ms. Cullen is clinical nurse specialist/ET nurse, East Jefferson General Hospital, Metairie, Louisiana. Reprint requests: Bernadette Cullen, RN, MSN, CETN, East Jefferson General Hospital, 4200 Houma Blvd., Metairie, LA 70001.
REFERENCES
J WOCN 1996;23:1
I. Holloran SD. Mentoring: the experience of nursing service executives. J Nurs Admin
1993;23(2):49-54.
Copyright © 1996 by the Wound, Ostomy and Continence Nurses Society.
2. Trivigno P. The search for inner form [Taped interview]. New Orleans: New Orleans Museum of Art. 1994.
21/9/69152
1071-5754/96 $5.00+ 0