In this blog, Henry Murage Wambui, student representative of the Clinical Nursing Society, Kenya, talks about his experience of the “Mentor a Nurse” initiative.
Why is mentorship important?
Learning is moving from the known to the unknown. As a young nurse in school, mentorship broadens my mind. It creates opportunities where I am able to learn new ideals and skills in providing quality care. I learn about issues affecting nurses and midwives through meeting leaders from different cadres of the health workforce.
What have you learnt because of this initiative?
Since I joined the ‘Mentor a Nurse’ initiative, I have learned a great deal about research development and presentation, leadership, use of evidence based nursing practice. I have also learned more about ways to improve health services with the ultimate goal of achieving Universal Health Coverage.
What can you gain from working with a less experienced/ more experienced nurse or Midwife?
The more you share with the others the more you gain. Working with fresh minds straight from school you get to recall or even learn something new since there is advancement in technology. Working with people who have different backgrounds and different experiences arguably increases competences.
What do you hope to achieve as a result of 2020, the Year of the Nurse and the Midwife?
In collaboration with the Clinical Nursing Society of Kenya, and other leading nursing organisations, I hope to set up a mentoring forum for young nurses.
