Assistant professors complete roll out of successful pediatric mentorship program.
In January, Samantha Hoffman, DNP '23, MS '16, CPNP-PC, assistant professor, and Taylor Jones Swing, DNP '18, RN, CRNP-PC, assistant professor, completed "Inspi'RN'ing Pediatric Mentorship Program," a pilot pediatric mentorship program at the University of Maryland School of Nursing (UMSON). This 18-week program provided 12 entry-level nursing students from either the Baltimore or Universities at Shady Grove campus with an interest in pediatric nursing with opportunities for additional clinical experiences and 1:1 mentorship with a Pediatric or Family Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP) student.
The program focus was two-fold. For the entry-level students, the focus was on fostering an interest in pediatric nursing and improving self-efficacy in the classroom and clinical space. For the DNP students, the focus was on fostering an interest in teaching and mentorship while improving confidence in leadership skills and feedback. The results of the pilot program were very positive. Hoffman and Swing have had their abstract about the program accepted to two local and two national conferences this spring to include:
- The National Association of Pediatric Nurse Practitioner National Conference (poster presentation)
- The Institute for Educators Conference (UMSON) (poster presentation)
- The Society of Pediatric Nursing National Conference (podium presentation)
- Maryland Action Coalition Summit (podium presentation)
A BIG thank you to the Dean's Teaching Scholar Program for funding this pilot project and to the mentors and mentees in our inaugural class.
Mentors:
Jenna Consentino, Morgan Garrett, Cat Abbot, Chelsea Dieter, Blair Nieman, Kea Forte, Ghislaine Madama, Abbey McMaster, Taylor Chester, Jovita Rodrigues, Samira Afzali, and Lizzie Harkins (administrative assistant and lead mentor)
Mentees:
Monica Diaz, Abigail Schlossberg, Rena Modi, Perla Diaz Delgado, Julie Seminara, Melissa Howell, Oyindasola Olagbaju, Nina Wiley, Lucienne Boehringer, Michelle Chen, and Anna Bisset.