My Early Days: Mentorship that Mattered
Early in my career, I was fortunate to be mentored by experienced professionals in the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU). I had moved from Sydney to the UK with limited paediatric experience, expecting to work on a general paediatric ward, but instead, I was placed in a surgical NICU. I felt utterly unprepared for the complexity of this setting. The first days were both exciting and overwhelming.
My mentors made the difference. One was a surgeon who welcomed me into the theatre to help me better understand neonatal anatomy and physiology. Another, a senior nurse, guided me daily. Their influence was so profound that I never left neonates! I’ve now worked in this field for over 26 years.
It was a culture of hands-on teaching, compassionate leadership, and emotional support. These mentors supported my clinical skills, confidence, communication, and compassion. Sadly, I see in many instances that this culture is fading.
More Than Just Clinical Skills
Mentoring goes beyond teaching clinical tasks. It builds genuine confidence, resilience, and professional identity. In the NICU, where the lives of tiny people hang in the balance, and many instances of profound grief for families, new nurses need more than knowledge; they need guidance and reassurance.
My mentors modelled how to cope emotionally, advocate for neonates, and connect meaningfully with families. Despite my initial fears, I learned to communicate clearly and act decisively because someone believed in me and stood beside me.
Mentoring is essential in any setting, but in high-pressure and emotionally challenging environments like the NICU, its importance is even greater.
Too Busy to Mentor?
Over time, the NICU’s mentoring culture has shifted. Staffing pressures, high patient acuity, and burnout have reduced opportunities for one-on-one guidance. The focus has become increasingly task-oriented and time-pressured.
Unfortunately, things have changed. These days, new nurses are often left to find their way through complex situations without the support many of us once had. Senior staff are stretched thin, managing multiple patients and emergencies, which means there’s little time left for mentoring. As a result, we’re losing valuable opportunities for shared learning, reflection, and the steady growth that comes from being supported on the job.
The Cost of Lost Mentorship
This change doesn’t just affect new nurses. It impacts patients, families, and the entire team. Neonatal care requires not just technical skill but emotional intelligence and teamwork, qualities built through experience and nurtured by mentorship.
Without mentorship, new nurses may feel isolated or overwhelmed. Confidence suffers. Burnout increases. Staff turnover rises. And the quality of care can suffer.
Collaboration also declines. NICU nurses must work closely with doctors, respiratory therapists, and social workers. Without mentors, it’s harder for new nurses to learn how to communicate and contribute effectively in multidisciplinary teams. The absence of guidance can leave new nurses unprepared to support families through distressing or end-of-life situations.
Rebuilding a Culture of Mentorship
Clinical skills alone aren’t enough. New nurses, particularly transitioning to practice in NICU or other specialised environments, need emotional support and professional guidance to navigate this demanding and significant field.
This is a call to action for new nurses to seek mentorship and for experienced nurses to offer it generously. In the NICU, we care not just for tiny patients but also for their families and each other. Mentorship is key to sustaining that care.
Prioritising mentorship will ensure the next generation of NICU nurses is competent and compassionate, and that’s what our patients need most.
