January is celebrated as National Mentoring Month and serves as a national call to action for uplifting and joining the mentoring movement. In an effort to create stronger interactions and connections between students and faculty, Frontier Nursing University introduced its Professional Organizational Mentoring Program (POMP) in 2018.
POMP matches FNU faculty with nurse practitioner and nurse-midwifery students from underrepresented groups to provide support and mentorship. The program allows students to join a professional organization in their field and gives them the opportunity to attend a professional conference with their mentors. Conference registration and professional membership fees are covered for all faculty mentors and student mentees selected.
2023 POMP participants
AABC, Tuscson, AZ, October
Students:
Cheryl Lynn Barlaan
Andrea Nikodim
Faculty: Diana Jolles
APNA, Lake Buena Vista, FL, October
Student: Heather Figi
Faculty: Paula Alexander-Delpech
NBNA, Atlanta, GA, August
Student: Daniela Zehr Butler
Faculty: Diane John
AANP, New Orleans, LA, June
Students:
Edalyn Shaw
Kristin Swanson
Demetria Woodruff
Faculty: Debra Hunt
Student: Jazmene Landing
Faculty: Joanne Keefe
NRHA, San Diego, CA, May
Student: Santana St. Remy
Faculty, Thomas George
ACNM, Orlando, FL, May
Students:
Michele Armstrong
Miriam Fawaz
Zekeyra Guishard
Kaede Johnson
Ebonique Shanks
Faculty: Heidi Loomis
“The opportunity to attend the (American Psychiatric Nurses Association) national conference with an FNU mentor was invaluable to me,” said an FNU student mentee. “During the conference, knowing that I was not attending alone provided me with a needed level of confidence to participate as a student. This was especially beneficial when it came to attending the state chapter session. Because of my mentor’s insight into the value of these meetings, I was able to connect with my state-level leadership and other student members seeking support as soon-to-be new providers. I thank the Office of DEI for selecting me for this opportunity and for allowing me the chance to get to know my mentor and other psychiatric-mental health professionals better.”
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Edalyn Shaw, Kristin Swanson, Dr. Debra Hunt and Demetria Woodruff.
Frontier faculty selected to serve as mentors attend a mentoring session facilitated by the Chief Diversity and Inclusion Officer Dr. Paula Alexander-Delpech, Ph.D., PMHNP-BC, APRN. After the session, faculty meet with their mentee(s) to develop goals and objectives for the mentoring relationship, arrange times to meet during the conference, review the conference program together, and arrange at least one mentor-mentee networking event. During the conference, the mentor meets with their mentee(s), and after the conference, there is at least one meeting where a summary of the activities is completed and submitted to the office of DEI.
“I had a great time connecting with my student and providing guidance with navigating the clinical setting as a student of color as well as being a sounding board to provide opportunities to uplift and empower the student,” said Dr. Dorsena Gayle, CNP, CNM, who attended the Black Nurses Association conference with her mentee. “I think the great thing about the POMP program is that it really allows the students to have unlimited one-on-one access to that particular faculty in an engaging environment.”
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