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March 2003

Program lets nursing students, mentors connect

By AMY PARMELEE
Staff Writer

Dean Pam Chally

What can I do to help?" That's the first question Jon Gerson planned to ask as he assumed the role of mentor in the College of Health's new program for students in the Collaborative Nursing Project, or CONECT.

The students travel between Florida Community College Jacksonville's North Campus and UNF for the CONECT program, which lets them enroll full time at UNF after receiving their associate's degree in nursing. After two more semesters at UNF, they can earn a bachelor's degree.

"Some of them kind of get lost and don't get the support they need," Gerson said of the two-campus schedule.

That is the kind of help Andrea Faulkner was looking for when she signed up for the UNF/Baptist Health System CONECT Mentoring Program.

"It's kind of tough being in both schools," the Jacksonville native said. Faulkner, 20, said many students find the dual enrollment aspect challenging, but she said it's worth it to be accepted into the nursing program.

She is looking for tips on how to successfully make it through the nursing program - while working as a waitress - and to reach her goal of working with children.

Gerson, who will mentor another student, hopes his background will help his student reach his goals. Gerson graduated from UNF in 1991 with a master's in health care administration and is president of the College of Health's Alumni Chapter. He also is an information technician at Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Florida.

Other mentors include College of Health alumni and nurses from Baptist Health System and Nemours Children's Clinic. Six CONECT students are enrolled in the mentoring program and have been matched with mentors, and the college has eight mentors waiting.

The mentoring program received initial training and support from the Kesler Mentoring Connection, which acts as a resource center for mentoring programs in Northeast Florida.

As for Gerson, he wants to bring a real-world perspective to the students and to help them make it through the program.

CONECT, which started in 2001, lets students earn an associate's degree in nursing at FCCJ and a bachelor's in nursing at UNF. Up to 12 students are accepted into the program twice a year, resulting in 24 juniors and 24 seniors.

"The nursing program is really rigorous," College of Health Dean Pam Chally said. "It's a lot of responsibility going into a hospital and being responsible for patient care."

But the mentoring program is more than helping students cope with the pressures of the nursing program. It's also about helping them to advance their careers and to learn to juggle the pressures of school and work with their personal life.

"Just because you go into nursing school doesn't mean life stops," Chally said.

"My hope is that the mentor is older, wiser and successful in their profession and life and can provide one-on-one ideas and advice," she added.

The students and mentors were to meet for the first time Feb. 20, and they are encouraged to meet at least once a month. Chally, who mentors a student through a program with the Center for Multicultural Affairs, said professional meetings are a good way to connect with students while introducing them to future colleagues.

While the mentoring program is starting small, Chally hopes to see it expand.

"I hope it catches on fire and that it is meaningful to both mentors and students as they develop it in their own way," she said. "Figuring out a way for you and your student to connect and build on that, it's a wonderful opportunity."

For more information about the mentoring program, call (904) 620-2810.