The past two weeks have been a whirlwind, a mixture of nerves, excitement, and deep encouragement as we officially launched the next phase of Nurse Mentorship Program at Connaught Hospital.

We began with a three-day “Basics of Clinical Mentoring” course, which brought together not only our first cohort of ten nurse mentors (senior nurses from the surgical wards) but also emerging leaders from across the hospital: nurse anaesthetists, OR nurses, trauma nurses, ICU nurses, and infection prevention and control (IPC) nurses. Leading a course like this was a first for me, and I’ll admit I was a bit nervous stepping into that role. But as the days unfolded, my nerves gave way to encouragement. The sessions were lively, full of rich discussions, laughter, and genuine engagement. By the end of the three days, it felt like something important had begun — not just a training, but a shared commitment to strengthening mentorship across the hospital.

After that, we spent two more days with our ten surgical ward mentors, diving into some refresher sessions on vital signs, A–E assessment, and documentation. We wanted to ensure a strong clinical foundation before moving into more advanced mentoring skills. These days were full of practice, feedback, and reflection, and it was exciting to begin exploring how to teach and mentor effectively in these core areas.

Week one was long and full, but despite the exhaustion, the enthusiasm was unmistakable.

Then came week two, our first full week back in the hospital since June, and it was a rollercoaster (as it always is!). Some days it felt like the emergencies just wouldn’t stop coming. Yet in the midst of the chaos, there were moments that made it all worthwhile: walking into the wards and seeing our mentors in action, guiding students, supporting junior nurses, and sharing their knowledge with confidence and care.

Those moments filled me with a kind of joy that overpowers the sorrows, the stress, and the setbacks that inevitably come with this work.

It’s early days, but the signs of growth and empowerment are already there. My hope and prayer is that the enthusiasm, teamwork, and courage we’re seeing in these nurse mentors will only continue to grow as we walk this 10-month journey together, learning, mentoring, and transforming care one day at a time.