Mentoring Program Success: How to Be a Good Mentee

Enhance your nursing school experience with these expert tips.

Some of today’s most successful professionals are mentors. But first, many were mentees.

As a student in a Chamberlain University nursing or healthcare degree program, you can take that first step, too. By enrolling in our Alumni Mentoring Program, you’ll be paired with a Chamberlain grad who’s committed to supporting your academic and career success.

“Our long-term vision is to facilitate those meaningful mentor relationships between alumni and current students, where alumni serve to motivate and encourage students, and help them build confidence, character development and academic success,” says Aisha Barnes, senior manager of alumni relations.

To get started in Chamberlain’s Alumni Mentoring Program, students and alumni create profiles. An algorithm then matches mentees and mentors based on specialty, geographic location and other relevant factors. You can get more information by visiting the Alumni Mentoring Program online or emailing studentlife@chamberlain.edu.

“The value of a mentor in your life is immeasurable,” Barnes says. “So, make sure you take part in this and we guarantee that it will help and benefit your educational journey through Chamberlain.” 
 

What Mentees Should Know

As you launch your mentee experience, Barnes offers these eight tips to help you get off to a strong start:

1. Keep Communication Open

The first thing is to set up your communication technique. Do you prefer texts or phone calls? How often? We recommend that you talk or touch base at least three times per session. But some of our mentors and mentees say they talk every week or every other day. So, it’s all about what’s comfortable for both parties.

2. Define Expectations

Make sure you have a goal for the relationship. Don’t just go in and say, I want a mentor, but I don’t know what I want that mentor to help me with. Do you want them to help you with choosing your specialty? Do you want them to help you with time management or navigating your class schedule? You can talk to them about these things and they can provide expertise based on their experience.

3. Maintain Contact

Be polite and keep up with your emails, texts and phone calls. If you say you’re going to meet and talk at a certain time … make sure you’re there. And if you can’t be there, just let them know because they definitely understand that you’re a busy student and you have a very busy schedule.

4. Be Honest

If you don’t understand something that they’re sharing, or if you have a differing opinion, that’s OK. It’s not the expectation that you all are supposed to be alike on everything.

5. Actively Participate

Make sure you’re listening. Don’t be distracted while you’re meeting with your mentor. And then maybe if you’re in the same area, go and observe their practice and the work that they do.

6. Get to Know Each Other

Everyone has different perspectives and experiences, so it doesn’t have to be all about mentoring and classes and that educational journey. Get to know each other. You may find that you have more in common than you expect.

7. Be Reliable and Consistent

If you can’t meet at a certain time, just say you can’t meet at that time. It’s OK. But be consistent about when you do meet and make sure you show up when you say you’re going to show up.

8. Stay Positive

Just know that your mentor is there. They’re part of your circle of support. They’re a cheerleader for you. They only want the best for you, and they want your success. So, don’t feel that they’re criticizing if they highlight maybe a different way that you can approach an issue.

Advance Your Nursing Education

Ready to accelerate your nursing education? Earn a graduate certificate or go for a bachelor’s, a master’s, or an online Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP) degree.

Our Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN) is offered online or at one of more than 20 U.S. campus locations. In the Master of Science in Nursing (MSN) online degree program, you’ll find multiple specialty track options. Other master’s degree programs include a Master of Public Health (MPH), Master of Physician Assistant Studies and Master of Social Work (MSW).

Chamberlain is accredited by the Higher Learning Commission (HLC), with multiple program accreditations from the Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education (CCNE). It continuously earns new approvals from respected agencies across the United States.

Offering student support, flexible online learning options, and programs like alumni mentoring, Chamberlain can help you find a nursing degree that fits your career goals.

Chamberlain University, an accredited institution, offers bachelor’s, master’s, doctoral and certificate programs in nursing and healthcare professions. With a growing network of campuses and robust online programs, Chamberlain continues to build on more than 130 years of excellence in preparing extraordinary healthcare professionals.

By Chamberlain University