Research Mentorship: Roles & Activities for Mentors / Mentees Nursing Research Field Advisory Committee Office of Nursing Services

VETERANS HEALTH ADMINISTRATION Mentors are… Advisors Supporters Tutors Sponsors Willing to share their knowledge and career experiences Providing emotional and moral encouragement Giving specific and constructive feedback on performance Sharing sources of information about, and aid in obtaining, opportunities A true mentor is willing to build and maintain a long-term relationship. 1

VETERANS HEALTH ADMINISTRATION Mentor Role and Activities Listens and observes Nurtures self-sufficiency Respects position of mentee / researcher Establishes “protected time” Advises on developing a program of research and a career trajectory Provides introductions to develop network Involves a joint commitment for outcomes Is constructive, not overbearing Is a resource for individual research studies 2

VETERANS HEALTH ADMINISTRATION Advice in Choosing a Mentor Review background of potential mentor ₋Read their work ₋Know something about them before you contact them ₋Speak with previous mentees Identify potential mentor's funding ₋Sources ₋Amounts ₋Team members Identify experience in managing complex research projects 3

VETERANS HEALTH ADMINISTRATION Choosing a Mentor (con’t) Investigate shared interests in research topics or methods Assess mentor’s flexibility and/or time for mentorship Assess ability to work together ₋Communication style ₋Personality ₋Work habits Assess expectation of shared outcomes ₋Publications, funding 4

VETERANS HEALTH ADMINISTRATION Possible Mentors Funded VA nurse researchers ₋Important source of knowledge about VA processes for budgeting, hiring, purchasing ₋Listed on the VA Office of Nursing Services (ONS) website/ VA Nursing Research/ VA Nurse Investigator Directory ₋ Funded VA researchers from other disciplines Funded researchers outside the VA 5

VETERANS HEALTH ADMINISTRATION Mentee Role and Activities Actively seeks mentorship Agrees on objectives with mentor Asks questions, seeks advice Takes active part in feedback sessions Adheres to negotiated schedule and confidentiality levels Keeps a record of meetings with mentor 6 A mentee is willing to commit to a long-term mentee/mentor relationship.

VETERANS HEALTH ADMINISTRATION Mentee Considerations for Developing a Research Career Considers career pathway in earliest stage of research trajectory (make 1 year, 3 year and 5 year plans) Networks throughout all stages – Associate Chief of Staff for Research – Associate Director for Patient Care Services/Nurse Executive – Associate Dean for Research at affiliated university(s) Consider affiliation with an existing Center (eg., COIN, GRECC) 7

VETERANS HEALTH ADMINISTRATION Considerations for Developing a Research Career - (con’t) Learns to guide others (eg, mentor more novice investigators, supervise technical staff, train students) Works toward developing cohesive program of research Moves toward greater independence & complexity in research Understands a mentor is expected for certain research awards (eg, CDA, NRI) Consider obtaining VA Mentor certification 8

VETERANS HEALTH ADMINISTRATION VHA ONS Points of Contact Beverly Priefer, PhD, RN – Acting Director, Research and Evidence-Based Practice – Robert Oka, PhD, RNP – Acting Associate Director, Research & Evidence-Based Practice – 9