The
mentoring process bridges the gap between formal, theoretical knowledge and practical, real life
experience. This paper
explains how the
mentoring relationship helps the learner apply knowledge by creating emotional connectedness to his or her career and by having a person who is as committed to his or her success as the learner. It states that, while knowledge is gained in the classroom, the nurse must be able to apply the knowledge in a high-pressure, fast-moving environment, in which the nurse's decisions can make a significant positive or negative impact on the patient's well-being. By establishing a mentoring relationship, the
experience of successful nurses can be transferred to the novice, thus enriching the entire profession.