Mentoring

Everyone gains from a mentoring experience: the mentee, the mentor and, in turn, the dietetics profession.

What is mentoring?

Mentoring is a peer to peer relationship in which a more experienced person helps someone with less experience to grow and develop.

The "mentor" and "mentee" agree on a goal, often with specific skills or knowledge development in mind. The mentor shares her/his expertise and wisdom, supporting the mentee to enhance skills, increase productivity and/or achieve in a particular area.

Some organizations offer facilitated mentoring programs and formal programs designed to encourage and prepare employees for advancement.

Why is mentoring important?

Mentoring is one of the many ways in which the dietetics profession maintains its vitality and standards of excellence.

Mentoring:

  • encourages new dietitians to learn from those who have practised longer. Dietitians who serve as mentors and role models are an important aspect of professional practice continuity and advancement. They help to ensure an adequate number of qualified and experienced dietitians are being trained to replace those who are approaching retirement age.
  • helps dietitians continue to develop their skills and areas of expertise throughout their careers.
  • assists dietitians with the transition to different areas of specialization, or to positions with more responsibility.
Resources:
  • Mentoring for Dietitians A Dietitians of Canada conference session handout that summarizes mentor characteristics and skills, mentoring across diversity, and resources available.
  • Mentee Self-Assessment Tool A checklist of skills and attributes to help senior University of Saskatchewan nutrition students assess themselves as they prepare for a practicum/work experience.
  • Responding to Intern Performance Issues Preceptoring and Mentoring in Dietetics: PEN Knowledge Pathway The PEN website provides best practices that focus on both preceptoring and mentoring. Links to resource materials that have been evaluated for best practice are included in the pathway. Requires PEN subscription to access.
  • Whose Problem Is it Anyway?? Responding to Intern Performance Issues A guide developed by Daphne Lordly (Mount Saint Vincent University) for the 2004 Dietetics Educator meeting. It provides a review of mentoring skills required within the context of dietetic internships.

Other trusted resources:

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