Our 2022 Pathfinder Students and Mentors

Registered Nurse PACU

I am very passionate about my career in Nursing. A few years ago, I was asked to work with a nursing student who was doing her externship in our PACU. I enjoyed the experience. I liked being able to serve as a resource, educate, and simply offer a listening ear when needed. Nursing school is challenging, and entry into the profession while rewarding can be just as challenging. It is important to nurture nursing students during their journey and help them cultivate tools they can use to navigate on their own. I’m truly committed to my profession and growth within my profession.

Unit 4 - Main Hospital

I would like the opportunity to give back and pour into a new nurse in the same way it was done for me. I enjoy being educated and educating others and this is the perfect format in which to carry out both. Having been luckily to experience being a mentee in this program, becoming a mentor would make things full circle for me. I would be able to share firsthand experiences and be able to connect with my mentee on a deeper level. I would love the opportunity to share my time and knowledge with a new nurse and be a part of the team that helps him or her be able to reach their goals. I cannot put into words how grateful I was to have this program in my first year as a nurse and even now as well. I would love to be a part of minimizing the turnover in the organization and keeping new nurses excited and engaged about the profession they chose. My end goal is to help ensure that the new generation of nurses have the confidence and skill to provide excellent patient care while aiding the efforts to prevent burnout.

As a Conway Pathway Mentor, I truly believe in giving back and helping those who come after you. It is important to dedicate time to the future of the profession.  Those who have achieved their goals should hold the door open so that those who follow may enter. A successful mentoring relationship is built upon availability, effective communication, goals, trust, commitment, and mutual respect Witnessing the success of others stands as the only benefit I seek.

Nursing Safety Coordinator

I will take the opportunity to fully enhance the experience of future nurses from not only an educational perspective but a social and emotional perspective.  As nurse in the Pediatric Nurse Residency Program, I had a great opportunity to learn, grow and develop within the organization, however I recognize that there is significant benefit to having a dedicated mentor in the nursing profession before completing nursing school. I seek to provide additional insight into the emotional intelligence needed to provide equitable and meaningful care to all population. Ultimately hope to encourage nurses to develop a deeper connection to the profession of nursing and seek to leave a lasting impression on their patients and the overall profession of nursing.

Professional Practice Specialist

I have loved being a nurse for the last 15 years and want to encourage future students to love and enjoy the field of nursing the way I do. I had a tough experience in college to get to complete nursing school for various reasons, so I feel that my experience makes me a good candidate to encourage those that might have any struggles or doubts. I would really love to help a student become successful in their schooling and the beginning of their career. Additionally, being able to support nurses through any emotional needs during school is something that I would feel strong in doing as a mentor in the Conway Nursing Pathway Program.

Registered Nurse CICU 

I received my RN-BSN degree from the University of Maryland School of Nursing and was proud to be a Conway Scholarship recipient. I take pride in being chosen and would like to give back to the Conway initiatives in any way that I can. I find it very important to have good mentors to grow as a student, novice nurse, and experienced bedside. This would be my way to give back to the program while also growing as a nurse.

I love education and I enjoy giving back to the profession.

I think that the most important aspect about mentoring is the genuine desire to see others succeed and to be a part of their success stories. A successful mentoring relationship is not one way. Both parties learn a lot about various things, and it is important to understand that this is an opportunity for both parties. 

Nurse Manager

I have mentored Licensed Practical Nurses who wanted to pursue their RN degrees. Assisting them in setting goals for their careers, worked on plans on how to attain the goals, encouraged them and provided constructive feedback when necessary.  

I have been fortunate to receive mentorship from various nurse leaders that have been instrumental in my nursing career, and I would like to share the nurturing and support I received with a future nurse. 

I hope to positively impact future nurses and encourage them to continue their journey and stay in the profession.

The key elements for a successful mentorship are transparency, honesty, constructive feedback, encouragement, goal setting, and willingness to share knowledge and expertise.

Director of Central Nursing Resources 

Mentorship creates a ripple effect that allows for both the mentor and mentee to learn. Being a mentor allows me to become a better leader by providing support in the mentee's development and helping them establish their own identity as a professional nurse. Becoming a better leader is a personal career goal, which is why I chose to return to school and selected my program.

By providing support and guidance to a mentee I am helping them achieve their goals, shape their professional career.  This will sharpen my own emotional intelligence, again making me a stronger leader. I have also identified mentorship as a unique opportunity learn new ideas from their perspective.  Ideas I may not have been exposed to through my usual circle of colleagues and friends.

Mentorship requires a mutual trust be established between mentor and mentee. Interactions between the mentor and mentee should promote self-reflection and learning using a safe non-judgmental and empathetic approach. 

Registered Nurse - Children’s Emergency Department at UMC

Being a mentor will all me to share the knowledge and skills which I have gained from my many years of working at Children’s National. I believe that to whom much is given, much is required. In giving back you are empowering the mentee, hopefully to pass their newly acquired skill sets to the next generation. I believe the Conway family has graciously provided this program because they strongly understand the concept of “giving back”. Teaching is one of my passions and this program would help improve on my teaching skill sets, as well as learning to adapt to different learning styles. I hope to learn how to assist the mentee with their transition from student to professional nurse with ease. I would also benefit with developing lifetime relationship with fellow nurses.