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“We’re nurses. We want to help and heal,” says Christina Feggans-Langston, RN Care Coordinator for hepatitis c. “But that caring and compassion doesn’t stop with our patients. We need to help our colleagues as well.”

Wanting to lend a hand to a fellow nurse, Feggans-Langston applied to be a mentor in the fall of 2021. It turns out she got as much out of the program as her mentee did.

“It was so rewarding to help someone accomplish their educational goal and become a better nurse,” reflects Feggans-Langston, who herself is in school pursuing her DNP.

Launched in 2017, UVA’s nursing mentorship program offers five six-month tracks, including “Clinician 1 Transition to Practice” and “RN-to-BSN.” Meet two mentor-mentee pairs and learn how they are helping to care not only for patients, but for each other.

Clinician 1 Transition to Practice Mentorship

While mentees traditionally choose their mentors, Alicia White flipped the script. “Our whole team was super excited when we knew Paige [DeLange] was starting in our work area,” White explains, “and we wanted to make sure she had awesome precepting and a great mentorship. Our goal was to provide the best support for her.”

So, when the call for mentors came out in the PNSO Blast, White, a member of the professional development committee, requested to be matched with DeLange. It worked out perfectly. “Alicia is always very happy, positive, and supportive,” says DeLange. “It’s been so great to be her mentee. I can’t think of anywhere else I’d rather work.”

White enthusiastically encourages others to become mentors. “I really believe in this program,” she says. “In a field like nursing where there are so many challenges, mentors provide the support, tools, and resources to help new nurses navigate challenging situations, develop confidence and build resilience.” White points out that these skills decrease burnout and turnover — which benefits everyone. “It’s been such a privilege to see how much Paige has grown since she arrived at UVA. It’s just beautiful.”

For anyone worried about taking on extra work, White says not to worry. The mentorship program team offers a topic to discuss each month, with such supporting resources as readings, videos, and thought-starters.

RN-to-BSN Mentorship

Last summer, Emma Taylor was looking for some extra motivation to get started on her BSN journey. “Getting guidance from someone who had been through it before seemed like a great place to start,” she says. She signed up for the RN-to-BSN mentorship program and selected Christina Feggans-Langston as her mentor, since they had gone through nursing school together. “It was so nice to see a friendly face,” Taylor says.

For Feggans-Langston, becoming a mentor gave her an opportunity to share her knowledge and support a colleague. “I’m a super academic person and I’ve learned a lot along the way,” she says. “Getting a BSN can be daunting. I think that I would have had an easier RN-to-BSN transition if there was someone along the way to help me navigate through obstacles.”

With Feggans-Langston’s guidance, Taylor established a plan to start at JMU in the fall, with a 2024 projected graduation date. “Figuring out how to going back to school can seem overwhelming,” she admits, “but there are a lot of good things that come of it, and you will be supported in your current role by coworkers and peers. You made it through nursing school once, and this time isn't as bad!”

How to Become a Mentor or Mentee

RNs who would like to be or find a mentor can sign up on the PNSO's Mentorships Program webpage. Find out more about upcoming cohorts starting in September on this flier.