NMMC RNs Mentor ICC Student Nurses In New Partnership
TUPELO, Mississippi—Registered nurses from North Mississippi Medical Center are going back to school – but not to further their own education.
These experienced nurses are mentoring nursing students at Itawamba Community College, assisting them in their skills lab and sharing insight they’ve gained over their years of practice.
“Building relationships is crucial in the success of patient-centered care, and this partnership will not only prepare Itawamba Community College’s nursing students with a solid foundation to begin their career but will also enhance learning through mentoring,” says Tonya L. Vaughn, MSN, RN, dean of Health Science Instruction at ICC. “The nurse mentors from NMMC will provide our students with a wealth of knowledge and experience-based practice.”
Dana Walker, DNP, RN, who directs ICC’s Associate Degree Nursing program, agrees. “Many times the student nurse feels less anxiety with an outsider and will discuss concerns they will not mention to a nurse faculty,” Walker says. “The nurse will be able to help develop the student’s personal and professional skills by building a relationship that allows for a non-threatening environment—with no grade attached.”
Vaughn says the partnership will also help ensure the students' success as they enter the workforce. “NMMC has provided a great mentorship team to ensure that ICC’s future nurses have someone they can practice and communicate with and simply just rely on for support,” she adds.
The partnership is win-win, as North Mississippi Health Services is looking to strengthen the applicant pool for nursing positions. According to NMHS Chief Nurse Executive Angie Lambert, the mentoring collaboration is one of many ways the health system is investing in nurses.
NMMC offers externship and internship programs for nursing students, such as those at ICC. For new nursing graduates, NMMC has Mississippi’s only Graduate Nurse Residency Program accredited as a Practice Transition Program by the American Nurses Credentialing Center’s Commission on Accreditation in Practice Transition Programs.
NMMC is hosting a Nursing Open House and Hiring Event from 3-6 p.m. Tuesday, Nov. 3, to provide an opportunity for students, including those at ICC who are being mentored, as well as experienced RNs and licensed practical nurses to connect with nursing leaders and learn about job opportunities throughout North Mississippi Health Services. To register or for more information, visit www.nmhs.net/careers.
