Mentoring the Team for Success: Traits of a Good Mentor Relationship

Purpose. Developing the next generation of nurse researchers requires a dedicated effort by both the research mentor and the mentee. This presentation will discuss the elements essential for success of this relationship with examples of operationalizing these concepts. Background. A mentor may function as a teacher, advisor, sponsor, role model, counselor or friend to the mentee. Mentoring assumes that there will be an established connection that would exist between the experienced researcher and the novice. Meleis and colleagues have suggested that a culture of scholarly caring includes collaborative mentorship whose features are negotiated relations, mutual interactions, facilitative strategies and empowerment.

Process: Mentorship at all levels of student learning is a valued component of our research team. Mentorship may occur individually or collectively with members of the team to facilitate professional growth for all members of the team and recognition of team efforts through publication and presentation. The process is initiated during recruitment and is continued throughout the duration of the student's involvement.  

Outcomes. Examples will be discussed of how the mentorship model in our research team is operationalized and will include completed projects and opportunities and projected goals.

 Conclusions: Providing opportunities for students to work with experienced research mentors facilitates the development of the next generation of nurse researchers. Operationalizing the concepts of mentorship provides a framework to ensure the success of the individual student and the team's research goals.