9 Tips to Make the Most of Your Nurse Mentorship

What kind of nurse do you want to be when you grow up? If you are still searching for the answer to this question, engaging in a nurse mentorship is a great way to establish your professional goals — and nail down the milestones that will help you get there.

You can benefit from mentorship at any point in your life or your nursing career journey. We spoke with Demi Davidge, MSN, RN, who shares the importance of nurse mentorships and provides helpful tips to make the most of your time.

“Nursing is an incredibly challenging and taxing career field,” Davidge says. “Mentorship in nursing is so important because you aren’t meant to navigate this career field or these challenges alone, and you shouldn’t have to.”

When you begin working with a nurse mentor, it may feel like you have a lot of ground to cover in a limited amount of time. Make the most of this time by setting your expectations early and putting in the effort to achieve your desired results.

Unlike a unit-based orientation which focuses on task-related skills, a nurse mentorship is customized to focus on professional development. Davidge notes that a nurse mentorship program is not one-size-fits-all, so it’s important to communicate openly with your mentor about your needs.

“If the pace of the mentorship is too fast and overwhelming, say so,” she says.

Perhaps you did not have an opportunity to work on delegation during your three shifts this week. Be open with your mentor, so you don’t move through the program too quickly.

Partnering up with another registered nurse (RN) who is in a mentorship program will help you feel less alone throughout the experience. Similar to buddying up with another new grad during orientation, a mentee partner will provide an additional layer of support.

As nurse mentees, you and your partner can compare experiences, talk about how compatible you are with your mentor, and keep each other motivated and accountable for the challenges ahead.

As Davidge mentions, mentorships are not a one-size-fits-all guarantee. Some mentorship programs are designed for certain time periods of your career, while others are designed to help advance your career.

“Consider what the mentorship program offers and ensure it aligns with the goals you have,” Davidge says.

For example, if you have only been a nurse for a few years, a mentorship focused on leadership and management may not be the best fit. When you browse mentorship program options, have a general idea of your long-term nursing career goals to help guide your decision-making.

During a nursing mentorship, you will perform exercises to develop the nursing soft skills needed for your professional goals. When you incorporate these strategies into everyday practice, it’s important to maintain your own nursing style.

Davidge explains that the strategies you learn in a mentorship are for you to take and apply to your life and career in a way that works for you.

“It’s not about doing everything your mentor tells you to do,” Davidge says. “It’s about learning how to make changes within your own life that are sustainable.”

Your mentorship program is an investment in yourself, so it’s up to you to put in the hard work to achieve results.

“Mentorship is all about the transformation that you make — it’s not a transformation that your mentor can make for you,” Davidge says. “You will get out of your mentorship experience exactly what you put into it.”

By maintaining an open mind and a desire to learn, both you and your mentor will get the most from the experience.

If your hospital does not offer a mentorship program, there are plenty of ways to locate a mentor yourself. Davidge recommends identifying a nurse leader or nurse you look up to and building an informal mentorship.

On the other hand, you don’t have to be in person to find a mentor. Social media is a great place to identify a nurse whose career aligns with your goals. Nurses are innately willing to help others, so don’t be afraid to reach out to a stranger online!

Engaging in a nurse mentorship is a great way to navigate your nursing career with the help of someone who has been in your position. Before you select a mentor, you should have an idea of your career goals.

Where do you want to be in five years as a nurse? Write out a list of the qualities you want to see in your future self and use this as a guide to search for a mentor.