NOVA developed the Empower Mentoring Program to help NOVA nurses meet professional goals and pursue dreams for professional advancement within the VA.  The practice of mentoring in nursing has existed as long as the profession itself. Florence Nightingale is often credited as the founder of modern nursing and has been referred to as the mentor of matrons.  With mentoring in nursing, there is an understanding that there are benefits for both mentor and mentee, and that the availability of mentoring is vital.  According to Palermo (2024), mentoring in nursing has the potential to impact nurse retention and decrease turnover. 

For effective mentoring, the mentor and mentee set expectations at the beginning, including goals for mentoring relationship.  The mentor-mentee relationship is a partnership.  As with any partnership, it’s important to understand the responsibilities on each side.  The mentee is responsible for contacting the mentor and setting up a meeting schedule which can be by email, phone, or in person.  Each organization has its own culture, and the mentor can help the mentee successfully integrate into the VA culture.  Mentors can help mentees understand the informal power structure in an organization.  In successful mentoring relationships there are strong lines of communication, and both the mentor and mentee are open to feedback. 

Should you ask for a mentor?  Would you like help navigating the VA system, developing supportive and encouraging relationships, guidance in professional, personal, and interpersonal growth? Would you like to connect with seasoned NOVA members to benefit from their expertise and experience? 

Should you become a mentor?  Have you worked in the VA for a year or more?  Do you know things now that you wished somebody told you when you first started in VA?  Do you want to help people navigate the sometimes confusing routes to promotion and career development in the VA?  Do you want to make a difference?

If the answer to any of these questions is yes, go to the NOVA Webpage; click on Education, then select Mentorship Program. NOVA's Mentoring Program matches NOVA nurses across the country to help you learn about the VA and achieve your career goals.
https://www.vanurse.org

Skywell-Nilsson, M., Brink, E., and Berghammer, M.  (2024). Commitment and efforts to maintain mentoring:  Nurse managers’ perceptions of structuring mentoring provision for new nurses in a hospital setting. Journal of Clinical Nursing. (3033), p. 3700-3710. DOI: 10.1111/jocn.17219