16: LIFELONG MENTORSHIP AND MENTEESHIP ■ 377been written about mentorship in advanced nursing practice for those nurses who
are DNPs? This chapter will examine vital elements of mentoring and their appli-
cation to individuals who were recently awarded a DNP as well to those inter-
ested in mentoring DNPs. Specifically, areas to be explored include: (a) the history
of mentorship in nursing; (b) mentorship models, as well as the characteristics of
mentors; (c) mentoring of underrepresented groups among DNPs; (d) preparation
of mentors; and (e) future trends and recommendations for the profession concern-
ing mentorship of DNP- prepared professionals. The magnitude of concern about
mentorship is heightened given the shortage of experienced leaders in the nursing
profession and the lack of resources thus far attributed to support meaningful men-
toring relationships.
■ HISTORY OF MENTORSHIP AND MENTEESHIP
IN THE NURSING PROFESSION
The more complicated new role expectations are, the more necessary mentoring
becomes.
Angela Barron McBride (2008, p. 368)
EARLY HISTORY
The process of mentoring was first recorded as an important role for leaders during
the Trojan War, in approximately 1,200 BCE. That is when Mentor, a family friend
of the Greek king Odysseus, acted as a surrogate parent, counselor, and guide for
the apprentice- king Telemachus until his father Odysseus returned from the war
(Trumble & Brown, 2002). Most recently, science- based professions have used net-
working and mentoring to encourage and support new students and colleagues as
they become enculturated to a new organization, academic setting, and/ or private
practice (Rosser & Taylor, 2009). One example of this goal- focused mentoring is the
national STEM (acronym for science, technology, engineering, and mathematics) pro-
grams in primary, secondary, and higher education to mentor young students into
science and technology- based careers (Garringer, Kupersmidt, Rhodes, Stelter, & Tai,
2015; STEM Education Coalition, 2015).
The culture of mentorship in advanced nursing practice is still in its infancy, yet
nursing has been an occupation since the dawn of mankind, when early mankind prob-
ably first picked up an aloe plant and used it to soothe a wound. Nursing as a profession
has a much more recent genesis; however, first recognized as such through the works of
Florence Nightingale (Nightingale, 1859). Advanced nursing practice has evolved more
recently as a response to regulatory requirements and rapid scientific advances and
health care change, and continues to evolve as a distinct and independent health pro-
fession. Advanced nursing practice includes the four roles of advanced practice nurses
(APNs) and nurses in other advanced roles. Most nurses are familiar with the four roles
of nurse practitioners, clinical nurse specialists, nurse midwives, and nurse anesthetists.
The health care roles of nurses with graduate and doctoral degrees and advanced inter-
ests have expanded rapidly to include other advanced roles such as informatics special-
ist, scientist, administrator, entrepreneur, and business owner/ operator. This expanded
practice and growing need for all doctorally prepared nurses makes finding and prepar-
ing mentors all the more important.