Coaches for Nursing Students Program
at USM's L-A College
A reception was held recently at USM’s
Lewiston-Auburn campus for nursing students and area health
care professionals who serve as “coaches” for
aspiring nurses. In attendance at the event were, left to
right Dr. Bonnie Farmer, nursing program coordinator on the
L-A campus, Rhonda Giusto, nursing student, Ann Ward, RN,
nursing coach (holding son Ambrose), and Nicole Morin-Scribner,
Director of Employee Relations for the Sisters of Charity
Health System.
The Coaches for Nursing Students Program, a collaborative
effort between USM and area health care providers, officially
began its second year at a kick-off reception held recently
at USM’s Lewiston-Auburn College (LAC).
The purpose of this initiative is to match USM nursing students
on the Lewiston-Auburn campus with a “coach,”
a nurse or other health care professional who can help guide
them as they embark on their academic journey. “Connecting
the students with experienced professionals improves their
confidence, enhances their interpersonal and networking skills,
and increases their academic and personal effectiveness,”
said Nicole Morin-Scribner, Director of Employee Relations
for Sisters of Charity Health System. “In addition,
we believe this effort contributes significantly to a higher
retention rate among the nursing students.”
“As a nursing student, I'm so pleased to have the opportunity
to participate in the Coaches for Nursing Program, said Rhonda
Giusto of Lisbon. “Having a one-on-one relationship
with a nursing professional allows me to have a sneak peak
at what it's really like to be a nurse. And I can see first-hand
the art of caring demonstrated by my coach . . .. it really
inspires me.”
“We need to be supportive of nursing students - for
the good of our profession,” said Ann Ward of Leeds,
who serves as Giusto’s coach. Ward, a nurse at the VA
hospital in Togus and a graduate of USM, also views her role
as a chance to give back to the nursing program. “I’m
proud to be a mentor at USM,” she added.
“We view our coaches as morale boosters as well as
resources to support students in continuing toward their goals
of becoming nurses,” noted Bonnie Farmer, Nursing Program
Coordinator at LAC. “This method was chosen due to extensive
research in higher education which indicates that the more
personal contact provided to students in college, the higher
their success rate.”
The coaching program is an initiative of the Health Care
Action Team, a collaborative working group of the USM Corporate
Partners/L-A. Morin-Scribner, who chairs the group, recently
had an article about this program published in HR Pulse, a
national publication for health care human resources administrators.
Anyone interested in participating as a nursing coach is encourage
to contact Dori LaPlant at LAC at 753-6624.
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