The Value of Mentor-Mentee Communications in Perioperative Nursing

Communication plays a significant role in developing a mentor-mentee relationship, and each component of the mentoring process relies on a different combination of communication skills. Delivering safe patient care in the perioperative practice environment for a novice perioperative nurse or a nurse practicing in an unfamiliar specialty, requires both preparation and experiential learning, that is, learning by doing and learning from others. An effective mentor-mentee relationship is especially valuable in developing expertise in perioperative practice. Influential mentors use practical communication skills to guide their mentees safely through the complex surgical experience.