[Vroom]

Hi, there,
I have been asked by my employer to be a mentor for a new nurse. Our hospital started this program to try to retain new nurses and some of us "older" staff have been assigned to new nurses.
In meeting w/ my new mentee, she has listed "stress" as one of her most concerning challenges (don't we all?). So, I was wondering if anybody has any good resources or references that my mentee and I could share? I would be willing to purchase a book for her (and also myself) if there was something out there that others have found helpful.
I thought maybe a personal journal would be good for her as I find journaling to be very helpful for myself.
Thanks!
Vroom

[libra1]

I Str0ngly Suggest Jennifer Carr's HealThy Nurse! I Recently F0und MySelf Experiencing The W0rst Case 0f Burn0ut (10 0ut 0f 13 Signz)! I Waz Near The Breaking P0int, And That Truely Scared Me! I D0n't Kn0w What Elze 2 D0 But Be A Nurse! Thiz B00k Helped Me L00k At Everything Ar0und Me C0ntributing 2 My Feelingz, Including L00k At MySelf! I H0pe U Feel Find It Az Helpful Az I Did. I L0ve That M0st Empl0yerz Have Ment0r Pr0gramz, But They Sh0uld Az Well Have Stress Management/Burn0ut Preventi0n Pr0gramz!! G00d Luck!

[Nurse_Advocate]

I think journaling is a fantastic suggestion. Good for you!

Also, when I mentor (at our hospital this is different from being their preceptor...), I reflect with them on my first months of nursing (so stressful) and then about how I felt by 6 months and then about how I felt by the 1 year mark.

I find that exposing my weakness and doubts and battles with stress helps them to open up and know that I'm safe to do that with. Having them open up is, of course, a way to relieve their stress!

Another tool I use is affirmations. I, personally, have a set of cards by Louise L. Hay that I STILL flip through on the mornings before work (this set is called "I Can Do It"). An example of one of the affirmations is: "I get the help I need, when I need it, from various sources. My support system is strong and loving."

These affirmation statements are comforting and are a much better alternative to "doom and gloom" thinking!

[Vroom]

Thanks for the great info, Libra1 & Nurse_Advocate. I appreciate any and all info you can give me.
Our mentor program is also separate from our preceptor program but we're just in the very earliest stages (this is only the 2nd group of new nurses that we have mentored). Thanks again!

[aussiemags]

Originally Posted by libra1

I Str0ngly Suggest Jennifer Carr's HealThy Nurse! I

thanks, sounds good. Might read this myself.