Bringing Mentors’ Experience and Advice to Nursing Practice

The Nursing Professional Development Department has been developing a new initiative, the Clinical Colleague Nurse Program. Through this program, experienced staff nurses who enjoy teaching, share their knowledge and learn more about the nature of mentoring relationships with other nurses. Martha Griffin, RN, said of the program, “There is a ‘connective and collective wisdom’ that is gained from the more seasoned nurse that practices at BWH. Prior to the Clinical Colleague Program there wasn't any conduit for that nursing knowledge to be shared.”

The program begins with an initial all-day seminar where nurses are provided with information about professional development and the attributes of a good mentor. “A clinical colleague, when chosen wisely, possesses not only a willingness to share his/her knowledge but also understands how nursing practice develops overtime and how critical good communication and accurate information is,” she added. During the year, mentors attend short sessions to learn more about new developments in the field affecting clinical and nursing practice. As an added benefit, mentors have the professional satisfaction of gaining a new leadership role and aiding communication within the Nursing Department. To date, the program has been well received, with approximately 350 nurses participating.