New Mentoring Program Helps Guide Nurses Through Career Challenges

PITMAN, N.J., March 29, 2012 /PRNewswire/ -- An alarming number of new nurses leave their job the first year. In fact, some exit not just the door, but the profession. Add to that a demanding career, a hectic work environment, and an ongoing U.S. nursing shortage, and you have many nurses feeling lost at sea.

One solution? A great mentor.

"Having a caring and experienced mentor makes all the difference in the world," said Cynthia Nowicki Hnatiuk, EdD, RN, CAE, executive director of the Academy of Medical-Surgical Nurses (AMSN; www.amsn.org). "AMSN did the research, listened to nurses and concluded that mentoring is the single most effective way to help nurses learn a new role and increase their confidence."

AMSN has launched a mentoring program with online resources available to all nurses in all specialties, including experienced nurses who may be changing jobs or settings. The program is designed to help nurses across the board – from developing strong relationships and becoming adept at every challenge thrown their way, to providing better patient care.

"AMSN wanted to give something valuable to the nursing community with this program," Hnatiuk said. "We're offering it as a service, on a complimentary basis, and we believe it is going to make a huge difference for nurses, facilities, and patients."

Noting the challenges nurses face today and seeing statistics ranging from 18% to nearly 40% for new nurses leaving their first job, AMSN leaders decided to act. They developed the mentoring program and debuted it online in February. The site includes a downloadable Mentor Guide, Mentee Guide, and Site Coordinator Guide (pdfs). Each component contains tools, management plans, evaluations, and details on the respective roles. There are also tips and surveys designed in a self-directed format. Along with the guides, the Web site has related resources and reading on mentoring.

According to Hnatiuk, AMSN initially developed a more structured mentoring program, Nurses Nurturing Nurses (N3), in 2002. The tools used in the N3 program were highly rated and are now provided in a self-directed, online format for individuals and facilities for use in customizing a mentoring program based on their own needs.

For more information about AMSN and the mentoring program, visit www.amsn.org or contact the association at [email protected] or 866-877-AMSN.

This release is available online at www.amsn.org/news.

SOURCE Academy of Medical-Surgical Nurses