Fab Mentors! Share your stories here!

I have had two brilliant mentors, they both encouraged me, helped me learn and also helped me to gain confidence in my abilities.

Neither of them made me feel like I was stupid when I got things wrong for the umpteenth time which I was worried about. I felt like we were friends as well as a mentor and student, and we built up a really good relationship, and I feel they went the 'extra mile' for me which I really appreciated.

When i was doing my nurse training, all along i had had a feeling my confidence wasn't quite upto scratch, one mentor in particular (who i will never forget) took me to one side one day and mentioned this, and while i was startled that someone had mentioned it i was pleased too, she told me i would make a fantastic nurse but needed to work on my confidence, ever since that day i pushed myself and my confidence grew and grew, which she noticed and mentioned, i had 2 placements with this mentor and when i went back i had more confidence and she was really pleased, i will never forget her and what she did for me.

Amongst all the mentors I have had one really stands out for me. She was a mentor I had on a community placement, the group practice leader and an abolute inspiration. I attended two home births with her and was amazed at her trust and confidence in me to guide, support, encourage and examine the women, and catch the babies!!

We worked in a fairly rural setting, and everywhere we went people would wave at us from across the street or come running up with their babies to show my mentor how much they had grown!

She taught me every day, in the car between appointments she never stopped talking and sharing her knowledge. She constantly challenged me, and would never let me know anything before each visit so I had no preconceived ideas about what I was walking into. After unusual/difficult/challenging visits we would get in the car, and she would always say 'so what do you think?' Not only did this really make me think about things, it also made me feel valued as I know she appreciated having someone to bounce ideas of, or having a different point of view to think about.

Her passion enthusiasm and commitment to midwifery is something that will always stay with me and inspire me.

awww thats soo sweet I hope us new students get that from our mentors when we start

My community mentor was great she had a lot of knowledge and taught me a lot. She even lets me know how the woman are who i looked after whilst out with her. we still meet up for coffeee and i run things by her and she often sends me articles that she thinks will be of interest

In the hospital setting i have 3 mentors and they are all very good but 1 of them allows me to do so much more and make decisions on my own and then run them past her. She gives me a lot of confidence in what i do.

I have had a brilliant shift this week and a really constructive chat about working here, training, learning and above all being positive!

We have chatted well about these things when doing my paperwork, and she has said that she has faith in me and that I doubt myself too much.

She says now I must be more confident and decisive and think and say 'Yes, I can do it!' instead of doubting myself and my abilities. Sh e trusts me and has faith in me and that takes alot to do and means an awful lot ot me.

She works hard, is never lazy, she never uses me and usually owkrs harder than me, to make sure of it, quietly encouraging, she is humble, she doe not ever *****, and is rarely grumpy.

I was always of the thinking that she did not inspire me as 'normal' midwifery is really where my heart lies, and she never rams things down your throat, always asking gentle questions and not bombarding me with info.

She is an inspiration, and no matter where one's heart really lies, here is where I will have to stay (after qualifying) for a while at least, so she is making that easier and as good as it can be.

(check me, I am tres positive!)

That's is so grood to read smwife, such a positive post, Hope it keeps on getting better for you hun. x

positivity is my new thing! I didn't realise how down I was both professionally and personally these last few months. Though it makes me feel guilty, and I still miss Mum, I am feeling stronger and more able to be positive now, and it really makes a difference too.

Thanks MM, hope you feel you can be positive too

That is th whole pint of it smwife, you don't realise it yourself, you think you are plodding along just fine, until soemone says something, or something happens and then you realise.

It's great to see you are feeling so positive now hun, you deserve it, and your Mum will be so proud of you.

You know me, I plod on and take each day as it comes, I can't wait to get back on placement, and I am determined to do as much as I can myself....within my limits of course, and with my mentors guidance and support. I feel I know enough now to be able to go and get on with some things on my own without being asked to do it, and by doing that, I am sure other things will follow, if you understand what I mean?