As we work to strengthen our nursing workforce, Ballad Health is looking for some of our experienced nurses to join our Nurse Mentorship Program and serve as mentors for our nurse residents.
The program promotes professional development for our new nurses, which benefits all our clinical teams by improving nursing skills, satisfaction and retention – and it ultimately helps improve patient outcomes. There is no substitute for experience, but this sharing of wisdom is the best substitute as our new nurses develop. Becoming a Nurse Mentor is a chance to invest in the future of nursing.
Serving as a Nurse Mentor is voluntary and not a paid duty, but it does provide an opportunity for financial incentive through the PACE program.
What does a Nurse Mentor do?
The Nurse Mentor will be assigned a mentee (new nurse) and will set up the agenda for the initial meeting. The mentor will communicate on a consistent basis, at least once a month, and let the mentee set the agenda or topics of discussion for additional meetings. The mentor is there to provide insight and answer questions that will help develop the nurse resident.
There is a process set up for mentors to provide formal documentation with the first-, third- and sixth-month meetings. This will enable mentors to obtain credit for PACE points.
How do you apply to become a Nurse Mentor?
- To apply to become a Nurse Mentor, visit the program’s site on the Ballad Health intranet here. (NOTE: You must be on a network device to access the intranet.)
- Manager approves the mentorship application form.
- Mentor candidate attends “Mentorship Workshop 101.”
- Upon completion, a checklist is sent to the mentor candidate/attendee.
To locate the program’s site on the intranet, follow this progression: Intranet main page > Departments (at the top) > Clinical education > Nurse Mentorship Program (on the left menu)
Why become a Nurse Mentor?
Here’s what some of our current Nurse Mentors say:
- “Being a mentor is rewarding for both the mentor and mentee. Mentoring encourages professional growth and improves patient outcomes. It is a wonderful way to help overcome first-year challenges.” – Diane Griffin, CCU at Johnston Memorial Hospital.
- “I really enjoy being a mentor. My mentee was a breath of fresh during a really dark time in nursing. She reminded me why I became a nurse in the first place.” – Meagan Steelman, ER at Greeneville Community Hospital
- “I enjoy helping them see the bigger picture while not losing sight of the patient as the center of care.” – Tiffany Hodge, ICU at Johnson City Medical Center
More information
Email Marcia DePolo, program coordinator, at NurseResidentMentorProgram@balladhealth.org for more information.
