title: Connecting in distance mentoring: communication practices that work.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  As nursing and healthcare become more global, supported by technology, the opportunities for distance mentoring increase. Mentorship is critical to nurse educator recruitment and retention.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  The purpose of this study was to identify communication practices of nurse educators involved in mentoring at a distance.
  
  
  METHODS
  A qualitative design, utilizing in-person or telephone interviews was used. Participants were twenty-three protégés or mentors who were part of a yearlong distance mentoring program.
  An iterative process of hermeneutic analysis identified three themes; this paper focuses on the theme of connectedness.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Participant narratives illuminate practices of connecting at a distance: meeting face-to-face, sharing personal information, experiencing reciprocity, journaling, being vulnerable, establishing one's presence, and appreciating different perspectives.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Distance does not appear to limit the connecting potential leading to a meaningful mentoring relationship; rather, it offers possibilities that local mentoring relationships may not. Nurse educators in under-resourced countries, those in small programs without a cadre of senior faculty, and students in distance programs are among those who stand to benefit from distance mentoring relationships.
authors: Oregon Health & Science University School of Nursing, Portland, OR, United States. Electronic address: lasaterk@ohsu.edu.
authors: Kathie
authors: K
authors: Lasater
authors: Minnesota State University, Mankato, Mankato, MN, United States.
authors: Patricia K
authors: PK
authors: Young
authors: University of Cincinnati College of Nursing, Cincinnati, OH, United States.
authors: Claudia G
authors: CG
authors: Mitchell
authors: Bryan College of Health Sciences, Lincoln, NE, United States.
authors: Theresa M
authors: TM
authors: Delahoyde
authors: Loma Linda University School of Nursing, Loma Linda, CA, United States.
authors: Jan M
authors: JM
authors: Nick
authors: Ball State University School of Nursing, Muncie, IN, United States.
authors: Linda
authors: L
authors: Siktberg
mesh_terms: D003142:Communication; D020375:Education, Distance; D004506:Education, Nursing / Q000379:methods*; D005181:Faculty, Nursing; D006801:Humans; D007400:Interprofessional Relations; D007407:Interviews as Topic; D008611:Mentors; D017145:Models, Educational; D014481:United States
keywords: Distance learning; Distance mentoring; Faculty, nursing; Mentoring; Nursing education; Qualitative