Objectives. To develop a sustainable formal faculty mentoring program to support professional development of new faculty members at the Massachusetts College of Pharmacy and Health Sciences. Methods. Program components included a mentorship subcommittee, faculty mentoring guidelines, protégé/mentor pairs, an orientation, seminars/workshops, and meetings between mentor/protégés pairs. Preparticipation and postparticipation questionnaires about the faculty mentoring program were used to assess changes in perceived level of abilities of protégés and mentors in areas of teaching, service, and scholarship. Results. After 5 years, 93 protégés and 73 mentors have participated in the faculty mentoring program. Program evaluations were largely positive. Self-perceived abilities of protégés increased in all areas addressed, program self-study, faculty recruitment, grant application preparation, program development, and promotion process. Perceived abilities of mentors also showed some increases following the faculty mentoring program. Conclusion. Both protégés and mentors can benefit from mentoring relationships. Faculty mentoring programs are important for faculty development and retention and achievement of academic and institutional goals.
This study examined the relationships among the demographic characteristics, symptom distress, spirituality, and quality of life (QOL) of African American breast cancer survivors. A convenience sample of 30 survivors with a mean age of 56 years and a mean survival of 6 years was recruited from African American breast cancer support groups and churches in the Southeastern United States. Data were collected through face-to-face interviews using a demographic questionnaire, the Quality of Life Index-Cancer Version, the Symptom Distress Scale, and the Spiritual Perspective Scale. Statistically significant relationships were found between symptoms and QOL (r = -0.62, P < .05) and between spirituality and QOL (r = 0.70, P < .05). No statistically significant relationships were found between age at diagnosis, income, or education and QOL. This research suggests that symptoms and spirituality are associated with QOL. Culturally appropriate care should be provided to these women to reduce health disparities and to improve their QOL.
Clinical nurses can involve individuals with cancer in rating their QOL to assist in providing high-quality care that is directed at positively affecting QOL.
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