Mentorship has been described as “a developmental, empowering, nurturing relationship extending over time, in which mutual sharing, learning, and growth occur” (Vance as cited in Nickitas, 2014, p. 66). Carrie Dameron describes the unique Christian nursing mentorship experience as one where “the journey of faith in professional nursing can be facilitated through a combination of discipleship and mentorship. Christian nursing mentorship focuses on both faith and professional development” (2013, p. 75).
We know the profession of nursing can be a challenging one – that has never been truerthan now. Mentoring can equip us for thriving in new roles, challenges, and stresses. Mentoring can build more than our profession. It can equip us as followers of Jesus to flourish as we connect our faith and practice, giving us a renewed sense of purpose and identity found in Jesus Christ. As we read in Scripture:
Two are better than one, because they
have a good return for their labor:
If either of them falls down, one can help the other up.
But pity anyone who falls and has no one to help them up.
(New International Version Bible, 1973/2011, Ecclesiastes 4: 9-10)
Mentoring is a relationship that fosters needed support and opportunities for growth for both the mentor and the mentee, as they learn from one another.
Christy Secor, DNP, RN, CDWF · NCF Spiritual Formation/Prayer Specialist
Jen Wojtysiak, BS, ThM · NCF Associate National Director
References:
Dameron, C. M. (2013). Fostering future nurses. Journal of Christian Nursing, 30(2), 75. https://doi.org/10.1097/CNJ.0b013e318285cb0c
Nickitas, D. M. (2014). Mentorship in nursing: An interview with Connie Vance. Nursing Economics, 32(2), 65 – 69. http://.nursingeconomics.net/necfiles/news/MA_14_p65.pdf