A BSN Mentoring Program to Shape Future Nurses

Behind most successful people is a mentor who positively impacted them. Someone who showed them the ropes, how to - or not - handle certain situations, and gave them the confidence to succeed on their own.  

That's the vision behind GMercyU's Dedicated Education Unit (DEU) program. 

The Dedicated Education Unit was established to assist senior 护理 学生 with the transition from student to entry-level registered nurse. GMercyU's top senior 护理 学生 are chosen to participate in the DEU after a rigorous application process. 一次选择, 学生 are paired with an experienced RN mentor at one of 20 participating hospitals, typically one where the student would like to work post-graduation. 

"A mentor program provides the opportunity for these nurses to mentor 学生 that will become the future healthcare leaders of tomorrow. 学生s must come prepared to take advant年龄 of every learning experience," Dr. 特里西娅·奥哈拉，注册护士，教授 & Assistant Dean of Undergraduate 学生 for GMercyU's Frances M. Maguire School of 护理 and 健康 Professions said. 

学生s follow one nurse for a total 136 hours, working with their mentor for entire 12-hour shifts, including weekends and off-shifts. 他们从病人护理开始, progress to administering medications, and eventually take full charge of patients. Over the course of the program, mentors help improve 学生’ communication and time man年龄ment skills, 处理冲突的能力, 作为有效的团队成员工作, and become overall better clinicians.  

"I saw it as a great experience to learn one-on-one with another nurse and follow the routine of an experienced nurse. I thought I would be learning a lot more in this experience than a regular clinical, especially when it comes to time man年龄ment and priority setting," senior 护理 student Katie Betts said. 

从一个狮鹫到另一个 

自2009年推出以来 2019, the DEU program has graduated 超过300人 学生.  

In the true spirit of the program, five GMercyU alumna who participated in the Dedicated Education Unit are serving as mentors in the program this year: Taylor Simmons ‘19, Kyleen Tidwell, 22岁, 凯拉·布朗，格里芬堡21届, 布伦娜·塞尔比，19岁, 还有22岁的Alexa Cruz.  

Kaila Brown Griffenburg, her experience in the program and working at Jefferson Lansdale Hospital was "worth its weight in gold." 

"I know without a doubt that I am able to provide such well-rounded holistic patient care because of my time in the DEU program and status as a GMercyU 护理 graduate. I know that the program has an unparalleled impact on 学生,凯拉说.

"This experience provided me with copious hands-on knowledge and skills, all of which I credit with my ease in passing the NCLEX on the first attempt." 

Kaila was immediately hired by Jefferson Lansdale Hospital just before graduation and has been working on the same floor since. Now, Kaila has the unique opportunity to shape future nurses. 

"I know the power and influence of a good mentor. What better way to help improve the nursing field than by helping shape future nurses into the kind that can provide patients with the care they need and deserve, who can improve the field themselves with the skills they  provide, and ensure future generations are set up for success,凯拉说. 

Seeing the changes in the profession firsthand, Brenna Selby ’19 knows the importance of giving new nurses support and encour年龄ment. It's why five years after participating in the DEU program at Einstein in the mom/baby unit, 她现在还在哪里工作, 她在回馈社会. 

"I know in the craziness of our days, it can be a lot of work taking on 学生 or new grad nurses, but we were all in that position at one point when we were just starting out, and we all remember the nurses who were kind and willing to help us learn,布伦娜说.

"In a world where the nursing profession has changed in so many ways and we have seen so many nurses leave the profession through the pandemic, we need to encour年龄 new nurses to love what they do and show them there are nurses willing to help them succeed." 

Brenna的学员, senior 护理 student Jolie Carney, is grateful for the experience, especially coming from someone who was in her shoes not that long ago.  

"She went through the program at the same hospital on the same unit, so she understands everything I am doing. She went through the same grueling hours of classes and studying. I feel as though I can relate to her," Jolie said.  

愿景实现.