Format for Printing     Student Name: Amber McAfee Grant Advisor: Michele Acker Student Status: Masters Student Quarter: Spring 2003 PART I. Leadership Activity: Work as a mentor for new nurses through my current employer. I have worked as a preceptor for new nurses and senior students. The mentor program allows new nurses to have a support person in place who does not discuss or critique their performance, and does not precept them. As a mentor I am available for emotional support and provide a caring role. We can discuss resources available to them to assist in patient care, and other ways to support them as new nurses. Some of the new nurses are from out of state and therefore I may be one of the few people they know in the area. Thus I am able to orient them to a new city and provide relaxed conversation about nursing, experiences, or other topics of interest. This builds staff rapport, increases staff knowledge and thus has a positive impact on patient care, and satisfaction. Infrastructure Building Systems of Care/Corrdination Outcome: In my work as a mentor I have collaborated with the current nursing staff to discuss effective ways to provide resources to new staff. In working with new nurses I am providing them with the knowledge and empowering them to meet the needs of our patients and families we care for. The new nurses that use the mentorship program may feel accepted into a new environment more quickly. I am able to remember my own experiences as a new nurse and thus reflect on my career often. I am able to use my communication skills, especially listening, and strengthen my interpersonal skills. It is a time for reflection and renewal and is an effective way to welcome others and not forget to support others in our field. PART II. Cultural Competence Dynamic Sizing Additional Activity: I feel that working and communicating with a diverse group of people has allowed me to see individual tendencies rather than stereotyping in a group. I am able to discuss ethnicity and practices of individuals and I have been very surprised in learning about others beliefs. In establishing a therapeutic relationship you are able to open up and discuss areas that most people may not feel comfortable doing. The areas that I have found important and that I have learned a lot about are things like cultural beliefs and practices. Outcome: I have a much more open mind to listen to practices different then my own, and I may know people experienced with these practices that can enhance my learning. I intend to continue to reach out to others in an effort to learn more about aspects of life that I do not practice. In learning about others I have enabled myself to provide a more holistic approach to care. In realizing that people have a variety of beliefs and practices I am able to carefully communicate questions in order to understand them better, as an individual. Faculty Comments: Amber, What a great idea for Children's to offer this to their staff. I am sure you are invaluable to the staff you work with. I think your role as a mentor will be helpful for you when you practice as a PNP. You often act as a type of mentor for parents - especially for topics like discipline, sleep, and parent-child interactions. Great job! Michele