Leader as mentor

A key component of leadership development for nursing students is mentorship. Leaders are called to be developers of others and to grow the next generation of leaders. Through the teaching-learning role and through serving as active mentors with students, leader-teachers can promote leadership skill development and leadership succession in the profession. Teaching the mentor concept as part of leadership occurs through student-teacher relationships, in the classroom, and in practicum experiences. Research and anecdotal studies are needed that illustrate curricular, course, and programmatic inclusion of mentorship and the benefits and outcomes of this educational approach to leadership development.