Healthy Nurse, Healthy Nation® Blog: Want to Get the Most From Your Mentor Relationship?
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5 tips for nursing students hoping to work with a mentor
Nursing students may go through the same rigorous coursework and clinicals, but each nursing career is individual. Yours will likely offer multiple paths to choose from. Navigating those decisions, mapping out your career trajectory, and attaining your unique goals can be challenging. That’s where a mentor can help.“When you explore uncharted territory, it’s good to connect with someone who has been there and done that — someone who can see the bigger picture and help you anticipate hurdles or hiccups in your career,” says #healthynurse Rasheda Jones, PhD, RN, funder relationship manager for Healthy Nurse, Healthy Nation. “The benefits of mentorship are especially critical for nursing students.”
Rasheda knows. She met her mentor, Helen Adiedo Fuller Spriggs, PhD, RN, FNP, on the second day of her bachelor's program, and they sustained the mentorship and a close relationship throughout Rasheda's bachelor, master, and PhD programs.
But there’s no tried-and-true formula for a successful mentorship. Every mentor-mentee relationship is unique in its timing, purpose, and duration. Some mentorships, like Rasheda’s, last for years and have a broader career focus. Other people have many mentors throughout their careers, with each one based on the mentee’s specific needs at that point in time. The important thing, Rasheda says, is understanding the value of mentorship and knowing how to get the most from that connection.
Rasheda shares 5 steps to help you get the most from a mentor relationship:
- Identify Your Needs
“As a mentee, you need to be self-directed and drive the experience,” Rasheda says. “Don’t expect the mentor to come into the relationship and lay out a plan without knowing what you hope to accomplish.”
Rasheda says to start with deep reflection. Ask yourself:
- Who do I want to be as a nurse? What is my end goal?
- What do I need to accomplish my goal?
- What are the areas where I need help or resources?
Once you are clear on your goals and needs, and have a plan in mind, it will be easier to identify possible mentors who excel in the areas where you need assistance.
- Communicate Your Needs Clearly
“In any meaningful relationship, it helps to be upfront about your goals and needs,” Rasheda says. “As the mentee, you facilitate the relationship. That way, the mentor, who may already be overwhelmed by their workload, can have a clear idea of what it might take to meet your needs.”
Don’t be afraid to be specific right from the start. For example, you might say, “I could really use assistance with X (your area of need). Over the next 6-month period, are you available to meet with me every other week? Are you available on Tuesdays or Saturdays?”
- Be Fully Committed
“You need to fully engage in the mentorship relationship and treat it like an unpaid internship,” Rasheda says. “Approach it with seriousness and professionalism.”
Rasheda also warns against spreading yourself too thin. Even as a mentee, mentorships take time.
“You have plenty of time across your career trajectory to engage in mentorship opportunities,” Rasheda says. “You don’t have to work with numerous mentors simultaneously or tackle all your goals all at once. Take your time and work your way through the ‘areas of improvement’ you identified.”
- Be Your Own Advocate — and an Asset
“While the primary goal is to gain insights from your mentor, don’t overlook opportunities to share your own skills and knowledge when appropriate,” Rasheda says. “A successful mentoring relationship thrives on mutual respect and is often a two-way learning exchange. Remember you bring a wealth of experience and unique abilities to the table, so don’t hesitate to share them with your mentor.”
- Be Gracious (Even If the Mentorship Is Not a Good Fit)
“Mentors do what they do because they either care about the profession or they care about you individually,” Rasheda says. “Give your mentors their ‘flowers,’ so to speak. Make sure they know how appreciative you are.”
If the set-up doesn’t go as planned, every mentorship is still an opportunity to learn. Rasheda suggests having a closure conversation to thank your mentor. Even if they couldn’t help you meet all your goals, they likely did something that enlightened you professionally or personally. Don’t be afraid to ask your mentor to connect you with other possible mentors and resources. Make sure to leave the relationship on a good note and let them know you look forward to connecting again in the future.
“Finding a mentor can be a lot like looking for a therapist,” Rasheda says. “Sometimes it takes a while to figure out what works for you. Once you do, that mentorship will be worth it.”
What has helped you get the most from a mentorship? Share with us in our discussion below.
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Blog Quality of Life
06/23/2025 4:02pm CDT
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