Nursing students get mentors

Caring through Sharing Mentoring Program is a mentoring program within the ENSTEPS organization at the UC College of Nursing.

The ENSTEPS program was established in 2004 by a group of minority students.

ENSTEPS stands for Ethnic, Nursing, Students, Together targeting, Excellence, Professionalism, Success. It is an organization that promotes the success of nursing students, specifically minority students.

Established in fall of 2005, Caring through Sharing consists of 30 mentors and more than 30 nursing students.

The program is designed to institute a one-on-one relationship between nurse and student.

To become part of Caring through Sharing, both student and mentor must fill out an application. Students must be enrolled in the College of Nursing and show a level of commitment and desire to have a mentor.

Mentors in the program come from many different fields. Administration, nurse practitioner, education and critical care, are just some of the areas of expertise.

Akosua Karikari, a junior in the College of Nursing, was introduced to the program when she had class with some of the young women who started ENSTEPS. "I have somebody to look up to," Karikari said.

La-Vern V. Sutton, the director of recruitment within the College of Nursing, oversaw the start of both the ENSTEP organization as well as Caring through Sharing.

"What the mentors bring is wealth of experience, wisdom, knowledge, advice and, most of all, how to be successful because they have been there, done that," Sutton said.

Mentors and students are required to meet or communicate on a monthly basis. Many students utilize their mentors by talking to them several times a month.

Mentors serve as both a teacher and a guide to their students. Many times a mentor will act as a professional adviser as well as a personal friend to their students.

Such things as going out to dinner or movies are some of the activities students and mentors engage in together.

Students also are able to get real world experience in the field of nursing when they shadow their mentors in their work place or at professional meetings. "It gives you a view of what it takes to be a nurse" LaShonda Jones said, a sophomore nursing student.

Jones' mentor, Mischelle Hill, a registered nurse, specializes in Adult Health and Gerontology.

Hill helped develop Caring through Sharing in 2005. "I thought it was the perfect opportunity to share my own knowledge and experience" Hill said.

Hill has three separate students. She uses different skills with each of them while still maintaining a close relationship with each.

For many students, their mentor acts as a stress reliever and motivator. "You have someone older and wiser to go to with academics or personal issues" Jones said.

In the College of Nursing there are certainly many stresses and it may be hard to keep the motivation going.

"The curriculum is definitely demanding and it does take a lot of dedication" Jones said.

Karikari's mentor has shown her what classes to focus on and has taught her time management. "The mentor motivates you and pushed you to a higher level of expectation" Karikari said.

Sutton said she hopes to see Caring through Sharing expand in the future. In Fall of 2007 the program is scheduled to add both mentors and mentees.

Caring through Sharing provides several opportunities for young nursing students and their mentors at UC. "It's building a relationship, and who knows, a relationship forever," Sutton said.