Abstract
The nursing mentor is an important role in the nursing profession which seeks to build organizational support, training for nurses in any specialty, and learning skills and knowledge as the incorporation of evidence is interwoven in the nursing practice. Organizational skills and team spirit are the focus in the following analysis which cites examples from Patricia Benner’s textbook on the acquisition of nursing competencies as well as peer-reviewed articles which involve expanding the role of nursing to include nurse coordinators as electronic health records (EHRs) and clinical decision support (CDS) technology is implemented; feedback results from first year undergraduate students in a relationship with a nursing mentor is reviewed revealing positivity in preparation, support (for specialists and generalists), and relevance; and Evidence-Based Practice (EBP) Nursing Mentor training effectiveness. The definition of the nursing mentor, characteristics of the nursing mentor, and personal example of a nursing mentor are framed in a Christian worldview with biblical quotation, as well as my own plan for nursing mentorship.
Keywords: nursing mentors, organizational roles, competency, person-centeredness
Nursing Mentor Paper
Nursing mentors hold responsibilities that affect healthcare structure, websites, and research, as well as guide nurses to prepare in their nursing career. Healthcare is currently seeking to improve national health, to improve the experience of meeting healthcare needs, and to improve the cost of care. Healthcare also strives to prioritize care and attend to the well-being of the healthcare provider as the nurse acquires a sense of salience in his or his profession (Benner, 2001, p. 146). A major impact of nursing mentorship is the change through evidence-based practice and review of long-term effects. The convergence of information in the care setting is accomplished through nursing planning in a model proposed by Hewner, Sullivan, and Yu termed the Quadruple Aim as they implemented electronic health records (EHRs) and clinical decision support (CDS) through the technology of team documentation, utilization of pre-visit planning, expansion of the role of nurses and unlicensed assistive personnel, standardization and synchronization of workflows, and collocating the team (2018, p. 171). A central aspect to the process is the knowledge that is transmitted within the records by the work of the people involved in healthcare in a similar way as stated in the following reference, “And this I pray, that your love may abound yet more and more in knowledge and all discernment” (Philippians 1:9).
Definition of a Mentor
A nursing mentor provides a practice learning environment for nurses. The environment includes mentorship support and support for learning; learning opportunities and the learning environment; belongingness; person centeredness; and preparedness (McCallum, Lamont & Kerr, 2015, pp. 184-186). A core principle in the quality aims of nursing is person-centered care which is a method that a nursing mentor values to build a team. Structured nursing mentor programs are available for nursing professionals with the organizational support necessary to learn the knowledge, attitude, skills, and confidence while caring for members of the team (Spiva, Hart, Patrick, Waggoner, Jackson, & Threatt, 2017, p. 189).
The Christian view of a nursing mentor includes the values and sense of belongingness that are a part of the traits, character, and personality of a nursing mentor, as well as the principles of a community and preparation for salvation. Principles of justice, autonomy, beneficence, and non-maleficence are key components of a nursing mentor’s education so that they react to conflicts and guide others in their reactions through their knowledge and by the words in the Gospel such as, “And he charged him to tell no man: but go thy way, and show thyself to the priest, and offer for thy cleaning, according as Moses commanded, for a testimony unto them” (Luke 5:14). Along with understanding and patience, nursing mentors are also prepared in their nursing profession to speak and recommend others in a way similarly to an introduction in the New Testament, “Paul, an apostle of Christ Jesus through the will of God, and Timothy our brother, to the saints and faithful brethren in Christ that are at Colossae; Grace to you and peace from God our Father” (Colossians 1:1-2).
Characteristics of a Good Mentor
The characteristics of a good mentor are compassionate, honest, knowledgeable, supportive, responsible, patient, and ethical. This is crucial in the anticipation and prevention of extreme work overload during a nursing shift (Benner, 2001, pp. 148-149). Within the context of the Quadruple Aim project, the authors explain, “[the CTI study] created a nucleus of technology-enabled, integrated approaches to care delivery in the real-world setting … which involved nurse coordinators” (Hewner et al, 2018, p. 173).
Personal Example
Michelle Grey was a nursing mentor while I worked on a ward at Essex Nursing and Rehabilitation Center. She was quite knowledgeable in nursing practice with chart review and developing features for admitting patients. Her direct and approachable manner made it possible to ask how to incorporate any new evidence that needed to be charted. Some of her major responsibilities included setting performance goals for the nurses, facilitating research, and discussions about patient care and direction. The study for EPB trained nurse mentors describes the characteristics of nursing leaders similarly to those that Michelle displayed, as well as her role in performance evaluation and appraisal, daily organization of advancement programs in clinical skills, and continuing education (Spiva et al, 2017, p. 188).
As a Christian, it is important to follow the guidance of others while playing a role in the community for the greater good. The plans through Christ and his teachings are fundamental to share with others in achievement of healthcare goals. The support of people is signified by the quotation, “And they continued steadfastly in the apostles’ teaching and fellowship, in the breaking of bread and the prayers” (Acts 2:42). Additionally, the current health condition is part of the knowledge that is discerned, as expressed through the verse, “Only let your manner of life be worthy of the gospel of Christ: that, whether I come and see you and be absent, I may hear of your state, that ye stand fast in one spirit, with one soul striving for the faith of the gospel” (Philippians 1:27).
Personal Mentoring Plan
Currently I am a nursing mentor. I provide guidance to the nurses I work with in the community to understand and develop their nursing interventions. I hope to strengthen this as I build more relationships with other nurse mentors and process insights and knowledge into the nursing field as I establish a fellowship list, read website information, and share evidence and experience. In one year, I see my role as a nurse mentor deepening related to the new information and people with whom I communicate. My role as a nurse mentor over five to ten should broaden as I review the performance of my nursing.
Nursing mentors are responsible guides for other nurses, allowing them to have an environment for learning as they develop their career, care for patients, and provide the most current practices. The special factors of a nursing mentor include the characteristics that define them, such as supportive, knowledgeable, principled, and peaceful. They make an important impact on the community through their spirit. The mentoring plan that will help through the next ten years is concerned with developing the outcomes of the results of long-terms effects of evidence-based practices as a nurse mentor.
Conclusion
The nursing mentor role is important for the healthcare team to work together in a spirit of support. Nursing mentors lead others in the profession by providing support for learning with opportunities within the environment and care setting. A sense of belongingness and preparedness impact evidence-based practice as members of the healthcare team gauge its effectiveness over the long-term implementation of EHRs and CDS technologies. The values of person-centeredness, support, knowledge, ethics, responsibility, and compassion are significant moral dispositions that help a nursing mentor attend to the well-being of others. As Christians we recognize that the nursing mentor guides other nurses through the formal structures and affects change positively.
References
Benner, P. E. (2001). From Novice to Expert: Excellence and Power in Clinical Nursing
Practice. Upper Saddle River, NJ: Prentice Hall Health.
Hewner, S., Sullivan, S. S., and Yu, G. (2018). Reducing emergency room visits and in-
hospitalizations by implementing best practice for transitional care using innovative technology and big data. Worldviews on Evidence-Based Nursing, 15 (3) 170-177. Retrieved from https://doi.org/10.1111/wvn.12286
McCallum, J. Lamont, D., Kerr, E. (2015). First year undergraduate nursing students and nursing
mentors: An evaluation of their experience of specialist areas as their hub practice learning environment. Nurse Education in Practice, 16 (1) 182-187. Retrieved from
https://doi.org/10.1016/j.nepr.2015.06.005
The Holy Bible. The American Standard Version.
Spiva, L., Hart, P. L., Patrick, S., Waggoner, J., Jackson, C., and Threatt, J. L., (2017).
Effectiveness of an Evidence-Based Practice Nurse Mentor Training Program. Worldviews on Evidence-Based Nursing, 14 (3) 183-191. Retrieved from https://doi:10:1111/wvn.12219
