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President's Message:  Lee Shirland

January 23rd was a day to celebrate mentors in North Carolina. Governor Easily set this day aside to
honor mentors in our state. Was there a mentor in your life or career that guided you, helped you and
perhaps is the reason you are successful?    

The dictionary defines a mentor as �a wise and trusted counselor or teacher, an influential senior
sponsor or supporter,a trusted counselor or guide, a person who gives another person help and
advice over a period of time and often also teaches them how to do their job, one who influences
learning minds, a master teacher.� Doesn't it sound impressive to be a mentor? The description is
one of an esteemed colleague, one who loves to teach and is dedicated to helping new and senior
colleagues succeed, a trusted friend, confidant, and expert. Does this description fit anyone on
your team, perhaps you? Is this how you would like to be described by other NNP�s? Would those
who interact with you every day, nurses, students, respiratory therapist, secretaries, physicians,
laboratory or x-ray technicians and NNP colleagues describe you as a mentor? Do your commun-
ications, relationships with team members and participation in activities that promote the ideals
and professional goals of your NNP team reflect that of a mentor?

NNP's work in very stressful situations daily. It may be tempting to take frustrations out on team
members. It may also be tempting to feel that after working 40 plus hours a week at a stressful
job that there is no time or energy left for mentoring. Perhaps you don�t realize that a comment
was offensive or that an action stifled someone's growth.

Being a mentor is an art and it is a professional responsibility for all advanced practice nurses.
I have not yet meet a nurse or practitioner who was born a RN or NNP. Someone in our path was
responsible for guiding us, setting an example of the professional we aspire or aspired to become.
Are you displaying the characteristics of a mentor each and every clinical day? Is there something
you could improve to be a more effective mentor? Mentoring results in double the reward. You
obtain satisfaction from the professional growth of others and in the process find that you have
grown professionally and developed into an expert in one or more areas of practice.

This newsletter

                                         Sincerely,

Lee Shirland

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