Iowa Care Givers Association
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Caring for Caregivers

Mentor Program

Direct Care Worker Mentor Program

“A Call to Mentoring”

There are major concerns about the shortage and turnover rate among nurse aides. A CNA Needs Assessment survey results which show a great need for longer and more meaningful orientations and opportunities for career advancement. The Iowa CareGivers Association Direct Care Worker Mentor Program was developed to address those concerns.

The Direct Care Worker Mentor Program, “A Call to Mentoring” is a two-day workshop designed to provide a practical method for direct care professionals to develop and build interpersonal skills to use in mentoring new and current staff in a variety of care settings.  “A Call to Mentoring” will help provide you with the tools you need to develop and maintain a successful mentor program in your organization.  The mentor program can benefit workers, employers, and residents/consumers.

The mentor program has resulted in these positive outcomes:

  • Direct care workers perceive benefits of enhanced professionalism and increased status of their profession.
  • Providers and organizations report retaining workers longer which creates a more stable workforce and increased quality of care.
  • Patients and consumers ultimately benefit from the increased quality of care.

To learn more about the Direct Care Worker Mentor Program, please contact Heidee Barrett-McConnell, ICA Education and Outreach Specialist, at 515-249-1433 or heidee.barrett@iowacaregivers.org.

A prerequisite to the Direct Care Worker Mentor Program, “A Call to Mentoring,” is a Mentor Management Program.  The most successful programs are those that have full support throughout the whole organization.  It is essential that management be involved in the development and maintenance of this program.  The Mentor Management program is a half-day workshop to introduce administrators, human resource personnel, directors of nursing, etc. to the concept of the Direct Care Worker Mentor Program. It also provides tools that will help you plan for the implementation of your mentor program.