Health · Healthcare & Policy · 9 hrs ago
Nursing leader says mentorship builds confidence and supports staff wellbeing
A nursing leader in England’s South West region says a mentor helped her grow into her role as the region’s Black and minority ethnic lead for the chief nursing and chief midwifery officers.
When she began the role, she lacked confidence and often questioned whether she belonged in meetings.
Her mentor encouraged her to speak up and arranged public-speaking training.
Two years ago, the leader experienced burnout and mental health challenges and took an extended period away from work.
Her mentor stayed in touch without pressuring her to return, then listened when they met after she came back.
The experience showed her that mentorship can mean offering steady support as well as career advice.
She says nursing leaders face workforce pressures, rising demand, health inequalities and staff wellbeing concerns.
She argues that investing in colleagues and helping them develop is part of building compassionate leadership.
A nursing leader says mentorship helped build her confidence, develop her leadership skills and support her through burnout and mental health challenges.
The author became the chief nursing officer and chief midwifery officer’s Black and minority ethnic lead for the South West region three years before writing.
Her mentor encouraged her to speak up, arranged public-speaking training and supported her during an extended period away from work.
The author says mentors can help colleagues feel supported and foster compassionate leadership in the NHS.
She argues that developing strong leaders requires people willing to invest in others, as well as education and leadership training.
- Who
- Sun Sander-Jackson, a nursing leader, describes her experience with a mentor.
- What
- She says mentorship strengthened her confidence and supported her through burnout and mental health challenges.
- When
- She became the regional lead three years before writing; her burnout and mental health challenges occurred two years before writing.
- Where
- The South West region of England and the NHS.
- Why
- Her mentor helped her develop as a leader and offered support during a difficult period.
This story does not have two clearly opposing sides.
Sun Sander-Jackson became the chief nursing officer and chief midwifery officer’s Black and minority ethnic lead for the South West region.
A respected nursing leader offered to mentor her and arranged public-speaking training to build her confidence.
Sander-Jackson experienced burnout and significant mental health challenges and took an extended period away from work to recover.
Her mentor travelled to meet her for dinner and listened without pressing her for details.
- Author
- Sun Sander-Jackson
- Role
- Black and minority ethnic lead for the South West region
- Role appointment
- Three years before writing
- Burnout and mental health challenges
- Two years before writing
- Mentor's support
- Public-speaking course, encouragement and support during time away from work
What people are saying
The greatest lesson she taught me had nothing to do with presentations, networking or career progression
That’s what mentors do. We pay it forward. We lift each other up.
Sources
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