Ask your potential mentor the following questions. You will use the information from the interview in your Unit 4 Mentor and Slide Show Presentation Assignment. Use this document to take detailed notes or record interview answers (with permission).
- What drew you to nursing?
- Before you became a nurse, did you work in another field besides healthcare?
- What is your current practice role title and role responsibilities?
- What education, specialty certification(s), and/or memberships in professional organizations did you need to achieve your current practice role?
- What are the advantages to your current practice role?
- What are the challenges to your current practice role?
- Did you (or do you) have a mentor?
- How do you feel having or not having a mentor has impacted your professional development?
- How do you view mentorship?
- As my mentor how could guide me in my professional development?
- What advice can you give me on setting a professional path towards developing into a practice role like yours?
- What drew you to nursing? A common answer could be the desire to help others, make a positive impact on people’s lives, and provide care and support during times of vulnerability and need. Some may also be drawn to the versatility of nursing, as it offers various specialties and opportunities for growth.
- Before you became a nurse, did you work in another field besides healthcare? Responses could vary widely, as some individuals enter nursing directly from other fields, while others may have had previous careers in different industries. It’s not uncommon for people to transition to nursing from roles such as social work, teaching, or even the military.
- What is your current practice role title and role responsibilities? This question aims to understand the specific position the mentor holds within the nursing profession and what their job entails. Possible roles could include registered nurse (RN) in various specialties like critical care, pediatrics, oncology, etc., nurse practitioner (NP), clinical nurse specialist (CNS), or nurse manager.
- What education, specialty certification(s), and/or memberships in professional organizations did you need to achieve your current practice role? This question helps identify the educational and professional steps the mentor took to reach their current position. Typical requirements might include a Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN) or higher degree, relevant specialty certifications, and memberships in professional nursing organizations.
- What are the advantages of your current practice role? Potential benefits may include higher levels of autonomy, increased responsibilities, opportunities for leadership, and the ability to work closely with patients and their families to provide comprehensive care.
- What are the challenges of your current practice role? Challenges can differ depending on the specific nursing role, but examples may include dealing with high-stress situations, balancing multiple responsibilities, working long hours, and facing complex medical cases.
- Did you (or do you) have a mentor? The mentor may share whether they had a mentor during their career or if they currently have one. Mentors can be instrumental in providing guidance, support, and wisdom based on their own experiences.
- How do you feel having or not having a mentor has impacted your professional development? The mentor might reflect on how mentorship has influenced their career growth and skill development, whether they benefited from having a mentor or if they faced challenges without one.
- How do you view mentorship? The mentor’s perspective on mentorship can provide insight into their beliefs about the importance of passing knowledge and experience to the next generation of nurses.
- As my mentor, how could you guide me in my professional development? This question seeks to understand how the mentor envisions supporting their mentee’s growth, such as providing advice, sharing experiences, helping set goals, and offering encouragement.
- What advice can you give me on setting a professional path towards developing into a practice role like yours? The mentor can provide valuable advice on educational pursuits, gaining relevant experience, networking, and seizing opportunities to move towards a similar nursing practice role. They might also share tips on personal growth and maintaining a work-life balance.