”The Future of Nursing”: Creating Career Skills, Pathways, and Mentorship in Nursing with Dr. Lepaine Sharp-McHenry

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When Dr. Lepaine Sharp-McHenery was growing up, her mother always dreamed of her being a nurse. After witnessing the impact of nursing firsthand, Dr. Lepaine knew in her heart she was meant for the job. Throughout her career, Dr. Lepaine has had the pleasure of working hands-on with thousands of patients to bring them top-of-the-line care. In recent years, Dr. Lepaine’s passion for nursing has led her to take on a new role as the Dean at Simmons University, where she helps mold students into future nurses.

According to Dr. Lepaine, one of the biggest challenges she sees in higher education is a lack of preparation, and unfortunately, many students step onto a college campus not knowing what truly awaits them. While academic skills are certainly important, Dr. Lepaine explains that the profession of nursing also requires excellent communication, so it is crucial that students are well-rounded. To better ensure the success of her students in both school and the workforce, Dr. Lepaine emphasizes the importance of mentorship. Each of her students gets the opportunity to work side-by-side with real industry professionals, which allows them to develop a deep understanding of what it means to truly be a nurse.

Tune into this week’s episode of Southern Soul Live Stream for a conversation about the nursing profession. Learn more about the barriers to healthcare access, the impact of mentorship, and the importance of diversifying the profession, so we can work towards providing equitable healthcare for all.

Quotes

• “What my mother saw in that hospital and how the nurses cared for her mother had a lasting impact on her, and ever since then she wanted me to be a nurse.” (03:50-04:05)

• “One of the biggest things that nurses across the country working in hospitals are facing right now is burnout.” (05:35-05:42)

• “I think you're going to see more of an emphasis on trying to diversify the profession of nursing.” (09:04-09:11)

• “One of the biggest challenges that I see in higher education is our young people are coming from high schools all across the country, and are not sufficiently prepared for what they're going to encounter once they get onto our campuses.” (09:28-09:42)

• “Some of the big components to nursing are the ability to be able to communicate, engage with your patients, and be able to develop a rapport. So having really good communication skills is critical.” (11:46-12:02)

• “Don't ever underestimate the people that come across your path because you never know what they're going to be able to speak into your life.” (19:11-19:19)

• “Not everyone has access to the same type of healthcare. This could be based on where they live, insurance status, or maybe the type of insurance they have limited them to certain services.” (23:41-23:51)

• “When students are admitted into our program as freshmen, they are assigned a mentor that follows them throughout their entire four years of the university experience. And those mentors are actually practitioners that are working out in the field.” (27:21-27:39)

• “We really have to role model and demonstrate to our students the value of bedside nursing.” (41:22-41:28)

Links

Connect with Dr. Lepaine Sharp-McHenry:

https://www.simmons.edu/academics/colleges-schools-departments/cnbhs/dean

Resources for Nursing Students

• Dotson Bridge and Mentoring Program: https://www.simmons.edu/academics/colleges-schools-departments/schools-departments/son/dotson-bridge-and-mentoring-program

• Johnson & Johnson - Bridge to Employment (BTE): https://www.bridge2employment.org/

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Witty, thought-provoking, and uplifting, Southern Soul Livestream - Podshow is the program that you’ll invite friends over to watch every week, where you’ll learn about fascinating speakers and get to share in exciting experiences. Tune in each Thursday at 8 pm eastern at SoulThursdays.com to connect with guests from across the generations and to laugh with our "cast of characters," hosts who are as charming as they are talented!