WARRENSBURG, Mo. -- The value of mentoring to the profession of nursing was the topic of the annual "Mentoring for Your Future Success"� seminar recently conducted at the University of Central Missouri.

Capt. Tiffany Fusco, R.N., B.S.N., 10th U.S. Army Brigade Nurse Counselor for ROTC, was the guest speaker, reminding the students from the UCM Department of Nursing of the value in learning from experienced peers, along with the need to share their own experiences with those who follow them.

Fusco shared her own experiences in pediatric and neonatal nursing, as
well as a her work with a neonatal critical air transport team, adult intensive care, as a flight nurse on a Blackhawk helicopter and her service in Iraq.

"Don't be afraid to reach out while being ethical,"� she reminded the students. "Loyalty and respect are the keys to successful mentoring."
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Fusco said it takes willingness from both parties to create the level
of trust necessary to a strong mentoring relationship, something she
learned both as a young nurse and as a mentor later in her career.

Capt. Tiffany Fusco, 10th U.S. Army Brigade Nurse Counselor for ROTC, was the guest speaker at the annual "Mentoring for Your Success" event at the University of Central Missouri. (Photo submitted to digitalburg.com)

"Even as a mentor, I found that every student knew something I didn't,"� she said. "The first step is to earn trust and respect, and then be willing to listen."

She also said a successful mentor must be willing to admit that he or she doesn't know an answer to a question, and must be willing to find the answer and share it.

Following Fusco's presentation, students gain experience in
cooperation and teamwork through a team management exercise.

"Mentoring for Your Future Success"� is sponsored annually for UCM
nursing students by the UCM Department of Nursing, The Department of
Military Science and Leadership, the UCM Student Nursing Organization
and the U.S. Army Health Care Recruiting Team.