A formalized nursing mentorship initiative in the Sunnybrook Neonatal ICU is focused on the professional growth of novice nurses and is demonstrating a positive influence on recruitment and retention while increasing the quality of care provided to all patients.
Lauren Legault, BScN, Sunnybrook Health Sciences Centre
Lauren Legault is a Registered Nurse who has dedicated her career to supporting tiny, vulnerable humans and their families in the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit. She has been an active part of the Sunnybrook NICU since 2004, and was privileged to be one of the founding Mentors with the unit mentorship initiative that originated in 2022. Since then, she has been providing nursing mentorship in a formal capacity, and continues to be passionate about quality improvement and healthy team culture development within the unit. She believes in the power of collaboration, and has been an effective leader in the position of nurse mentor, helping to effect change by developing meaningful, professional relationships that support ongoing skill acquisition, resilience, and clinical growth for newer nursing colleagues.
Jenny Dwyer came to nursing as a second career following years in retail management, and has been a proud and dedicated member of the Sunnybrook NICU since 2011. Within the context of the NICU she has explored various areas of nursing leadership as a bedside nurse, team leader and clinical instructor, and has a passion for teaching and helping others achieve their goals. Currently she is pursuing her Master’s Degree in Nursing Health Systems Leadership and Administration at the University of Toronto. As one of the original nurse mentors hired in the NICU, she has been instrumental in developing the mentorship initiative, and is thrilled to be a part of it’s continued growth and development.
Co-Authors
Maria Parzanese, RN, MN, Clinical Supervisor NICU, Sunnybrook Health Sciences Centre, Toronto
Marilyn Hyndman, RRT, MAppSc (Respiratory), NICU Patient Care Manager, Sunnybrook Health Sciences Centre, Toronto