SPECIAL SESSION: Leadership and Mentorship, a Likely Pair

Healthcare is undergoing unprecedented rapid change. Sweeping reform, advancements in treatment options, an increasingly diverse and aging population, and impending retirements of seasoned direct-care nurses have challenged nursing programs to supply more professionally trained nurses. The faculty shortage continues to be a significant barrier in preparing graduate nurses. In an effort to promote faculty retention and prepare the next generation of nursing education leaders, the Sigma Theta Tau International/Chamberlain College of Nursing Center for Excellence in Nursing Education (Center) offers leadership development programs for full-time nursing faculty who wish to increase their leadership acumen. Currently, the Center offers two programs. The Emerging Educational Administrator Institute (EEAI) is for new or aspiring nursing academic administrators. The participant (Scholar) develops and refines the skills required for success in an administrative role. Scholars choose a Mentor who facilitates the Scholar’s professional and leadership development. The Institute Faculty complete the triad and serve as a resource for the Scholar and Mentor. The Experienced Nurse Faculty Leadership Academy (ENFLA) is for faculty with 7 or more years of full-time teaching experience. It prepares nurses for leadership roles in academe, professional organizations and their communities. Like the EEAI, the Scholar chooses a Mentor and is paired with an Academy Faculty member to form a Leadership Triad. These relationships serve as the foundation for both programs as mentored individuals advance more quickly in their career, receive greater pleasure in their role and are more likely to become mentors themselves. Each program’s curriculum includes online educational activities, face-to-face workshops, a site visit at the Scholar’s institution, and a leadership project. Scholars cultivate and enhance their leadership skills and form life-long relationships with other Scholars and Mentors. Longitudinal data will be collected to evaluate the programs’ objectives. In this presentation, we describe each program and discuss lessons learned from the pilot cohorts.