Editorial
Welcome to the spring season , NSNA members !
I hope you all are starting to see some warmer weather and enjoy the slowly declining COVID-19 restrictions . This time of year is full of exciting things for many , as our new class of freshmen are starting to receive their acceptance letters or on the other side of things new graduates from December are starting new jobs as Registered Nurses ! This time of year is an exciting time for mentorship as people are stepping into new roles that require some guidance to alleviate anxiety and uncertainty . I graduated in December and am starting my first job as a registered nurse this month and cannot wait for the guidance my new preceptor offers me !
Prior to graduation , I attended San Diego State University in sunny California where we had a very developed mentorship program within our school chapter . Having a mentor throughout nursing school was a valuable resource that I was so thankful to have , which is why I want to spread the importance of mentorship in this wonderful edition of Imprint .
Many schools around our country do not have mentorship programs implemented . Defining exactly what mentorship is and the importance of it is vital for a successful career . Read Connie Vance ’ s “ Where Have All the Mentors Gone ?” article as she outlines these concepts in an “ Expert to Novice ” format on page 23 . As she says , “ mentoring is [ a ] gift of wisdom ,” and is irreplaceable in your journey to becoming a nurse . Seeing these principles in action is also helpful to show the usefulness of mentorship and how to implement it into your program . On page 28 , authors Elizabeth S . Nix and Bilinda Norman share how senior nursing students educated others about a variety of topics within their community . Mentorship can be found everywhere , not just within your specific chapter . On page 30 , Nadine Williams shares how online mentorship can be useful as it allows global networking and connections at the tip of your fingers .
I cannot stress the importance and value of mentorship – in all aspects of life . Everyone needs a mentor and I hope you have or will find one soon ! Perhaps , you might find your mentor at the NSNA 70 th Anniversary Convention ! Take a preview of what to expect at the Convention on page 34 .
Make sure to read through the entire issue for a chance to enter the Imprint Readership drawing for a $ 500 scholarship opportunity on page 40 . •
Sincerely ,
Megan Johnston Imprint Editor
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