No one can successfully get through life without the support and caring of others. If we looked back at our lives, it would be easy to identify those individuals who have given of themselves to help us be who we are today. As we continue our journey through life, the need for those personal guides, our nursing mentors, never go away, and in many cases, the need for support intensifies as the challenges of our lives become more complex. This is especially true as we transition through milestones to new levels in our career, whether it is a promotion or a first job as a new nurse following graduation. My advice in either situation is the same.First of all, let me define the two terms which in my mind are slightly different. To differentiate nursing mentorship from that of a preceptor, the new Oxford dictionary describes a nursing a mentor as an experienced and trusted advisor whereby a nursing preceptor is defined as a teacher or instructor. Regardless of the term we use or the setting of the learning, the influence and support of such individuals are vital to our success. Here are some recommendations that have been extremely helpful to me as I have continued my personal journey for lifelong learning.

■Lose your ego! Throughout my nursing career, I have seen people destroy themselves in various situations because they thought that they knew it all and had no capacity to learn. Life is nothing but learning and improving, so letting your ego get in the way of personal growth will close the door for you.

■Be open to suggestions and be willing to change behaviors to improve your practice and ultimately your performance. Recommendations and suggestions do not mean that you should feel like a failure. These are gifts to help you grow.

■Seek new knowledge and ask the questions that need to be asked. I always tell those who work with me that the only stupid question is the one that does not get asked. You will lose the opportunity for learning and surviving modern healthcare if you are afraid to ask questions.

■Reach out to people you think can help you in the areas that you would like to grow. This can be beyond the walls of the organization into the community, the government or greater nursing community. In my experience, I have never been turned down by individuals that I have reached out to who, in my mind, seemed so far out of my league. In addition, I have never turned down requests for help and advice from anyone who has approached me. I see helping others as a way to give back for all the support I have received. Instrumental people can also pull you into their league through this networking opportunity.

■Always ask about your progress. Especially in a new nursing role, frequently ask your preceptor or nurse manager how they feel about your progress and what can you do to improve skills or seek out new knowledge.

■Read, read, read, read, and read. Ask your mentors and preceptors what publications would advantage your learning. Also read material on related issues that may be external to your current world. For example, current economics, politics and global issues have a tremendous affect on our health care system. This type of knowledge broadens your understanding and helps put issues in context.

Be grateful to your nursing mentors and preceptors. Appreciate all of the help that you are receiving from those who are supporting you through your lifelong journey. Your learning should never end. Enjoy the trip.

atlnurse, I have to agree with you..There are many nurses that are willingt to help a new grad out.. thank you for posting on the forum,,Teresa