Clinical Mentor

POSITION SUMMARY: Under the direction of the Clinical Manager(s), and in collaboration with Clinical Educators and Clinical Resource Nurses, the primary function of the Clinical Mentor will be to act as a guide, role model, and advisor who facilitates debriefings, and shares practical, day to day, applied knowledge with other nurses. Clinical Mentors will primarily be responsible for providing rapid, just in time clinical mentorship on the unit, department, or program. They will also work in conjunction with nurse educators to provide on-going guidance to ensure competence in the area of practice. The Clinical Mentor supports nurse(s) through a mentoring process that promotes the delivery of high-quality nursing care. The Clinical Mentor orientates, supports and promotes education and develops staff to ensure competence and ability to fulfill specified responsibilities. They support nurses to ensure a smooth transition into new areas or levels of practice and the work environment. The Clinical Mentor integrates knowledge, skills and experience to meet the clinical needs and social adjustment needs of all team members. They serve as a positive role model of excellence in professional practice, demonstrating a positive attitude and a commitment to the vision, values, and goals of the unit/facility/region, and promote an interprofessional, patient-centered approach to care based on best available research evidence. The incumbent fosters growth of the new or developing staff member within an effective mentoring relationship while supporting self-learning objectives RESPONSIBILITIES: Overview: Patient Care/Clinical Practice Provides safe and effective patient care Promotes principles of interprofessional team practice by engaging team members with mutual respect, shared values and collaborating with all team members relative to patient care Provides guidance for interactions within the interprofessional team in the development of individualized patient care plans and coordination of care Demonstrates effective communication skills with colleagues, patients, and families Demonstrates ability to problem-solve in complex situations and effectively manage rapidly changing situations Demonstrates effective collaboration, negotiation, and conflict resolution skills Demonstrates an approachable and welcoming demeanor Demonstrates accountability and effective decision-making in the delivery of patient care and support of colleagues Assists staff to develop clinical skills and develop comfort within the team Communicates with staff, educator, and clinical manager to promote staff development and safe functioning Demonstrates ability to facilitate effective debriefing following difficult or challenging clinical situations Promotes adherence to facility/unit policies, procedures, protocols and guidelines including documentation of occurrences/patient safety events Facilitator/Mentor: Works alongside the nurses who are either new to the unit or those who are progressing their skills, sharing the management of their patient assignment, and mentoring them to consolidate their skills and develop confidence and independence in their clinical practice Utilizes adult education principles to reinforce educational material presented during clinical orientation and supports practice and development of proficiency Supports evidence informed, reflective practice and skill development Works to develop and implement nursing practice standards to support safe, quality care on a consistent basis, focusing on nursing assessment, care planning, interventions, documentation, and evaluation of care as a nursing professional and in collaboration with professional colleagues Monitors nurses’ development through mentoring Provides feedback to all stakeholders related to onboarding, continuing education/training and competency development/assessment of nursing staff Department Staff Member and Member of Hospital Team: Works as a professional nurse within an interprofessional team Demonstrates a positive attitude, effective communication and team relationships, and serves as a positive role model of nursing professionalism Professional Nursing Leadership: Actively address patient safety risks and escalates concerns or issues to their supervisor Displays respect, patience, and active listening skills Demonstrates a positive attitude, enthusiasm, optimism, commitment, and energy about the work environment, the profession of nursing, and the process of mentoring Expresses belief in the value and potential of others Demonstrates the ability to inspire a shared vision, a commitment to the goals of the team, a willingness to challenge process, and the ability to act as a positive change agent within the workplace Actively engages in personal and professional growth through self-directed learning and professional development Ability to respect and promote a culturally diverse population Education: In collaboration with the Clinical Manager(s), plans and coordinates the clinical activities of staff in a manner that promotes optimal patient care while supporting the transition of the staff member through a new role or skill level In collaboration with the Clinical Manager(s), identifies and supports strategies to meet ongoing educational needs of all unit staff members Demonstrates strong coaching skills to foster growth of the new staff member while providing honest and constructive feedback Promotes and supports the unit staff who are in preceptor or mentorship relationships with students or new staff Promotes participation of all unit staff members in educational and professional development opportunities Research: Participates in the ongoing evaluation of the Clinical Mentor role, based on established outcome criteria Contributes to the research process by supporting and promoting the implementation of research projects Quality Improvement: Promotes and participates in quality improvement activities and projects within the unit Other: Promotes safety awareness among staff and identifies potentially unsafe workplace practices, implementing appropriate interventions as required Performs other duties as may be required, consistent with the responsibilities of the position.