The program's goal is to provide students the opportunity to network and learn from practicing nurses who have graduated from USC Nursing, develop academic and professional goals, and receive coaching from professionals. Our mentors can utilize their experience and expertise to guide students through their studies.
Criteria and Applications
- Must currently be enrolled as an upper division student in the College of Nursing.
- Commit to the entire nine-week program.
- Communicate with mentor at least once per week through text, email, phone call or in-person.
- Apply to be a Mentee
- Be a graduate of the College of Nursing.
- Commit to the entire nine-week program.
- Communicate with mentee at least once per week through text, email, phone call or in-person.
- Apply to be a Mentor
Program Timeline
The nine-week program timeline provides the mentor and mentee with topics and prompts to discuss each week. Following this timeline creates productive communication between the mentor and mentee so that both parties will benefit from the program.
Topic: Introductions
Questions & Prompts: Exchange names and contact information. Establish the best way to communicate. What experience does the mentor have? What year is the mentee? What does the mentee and mentor hope to gain from this experience?
Topic: Goals
Questions & Prompts: What is the mentee's professional and personal aspirations? What goals did or does the mentor have? What are current challenges faced?
Topics: Specialties/Health Care Areas & Career Planning
Questions & Prompts: How do you apply to hospitals for employment? Does the specialty pick you or do you pick your specialty? How do you know if you're in the right specialty? What do you do if a specialty is not for you?
Topic: Mid-Terms & Study Tips
Questions & Prompts: Are there any classes that the mentee is struggling with? Does the mentee need advice on personal or professional issues? How are exams and clinicals going?
Spring Break - No Meeting Required
Topic: Clinicals & Skills
Questions & Prompts: How to handle the workload of clinicals and coursework? What is the mentee doing in their clinical? What questions does the mentee have about clinicals that have not been answered?
Topic: Tough Situations
Questions & Prompts: How do you handle the loss of a patient? How to handle patient families that are difficult? How to handle tough patients and co-workers (staff, fellow nurses and doctors)? How to push through tough courses?
Topic: Connections, Networking and Time Management
Questions & Prompts: How does the mentor maintain a personal life while working full-time? What does the nursing commitment look like? How does the mentor network and continue their education?
In-person Mentorship Program Mixer
RSVP by the end of Week 6