A mentored experience (KO1) in maternal-infant research

Funding mechanisms that require a mentor provide a unique opportunity to implement the research mentoring that is recognized as increasingly important in nursing. Little has been written about how to create and sustain the roles of mentor and principal investigator within a funded arrangement. This article analyzes one research mentoring relationship focused on maternal-infant interaction research and implemented through the Federal KO1 (Mentored Research Scientist Development Award) grant mechanism. Methods used are personal reflections on the 4-year mentorship experience and literature review using the National Library of Medicine database from 1990 to 2001. The mentoring relationship within the National Institutes of Health KO1 award is characterized by the personal commitment, common interests, and long-term professional development that are essential qualities of traditional mentoring but differs in that it is structured by the aims, activities, and length of each award. Effective participation requires organization, focus, and self-direction on the part of the mentored principal investigator and expertise, altruism, and generativity on the part of the mentor. A grant-based mentoring relationship can provide mutual benefits to the researcher and mentor but both must attend to sustaining and enriching the relationship.