The Alumni-Graduate Student Mentorship Program is transforming nursing leadership.
Sarabeth Silver (MN-HSLA 2018) has been a mentor to graduate nurses at the Lawrence Bloomberg Faculty of Nursing for the past three years. She believes mentorship can be transformational in shaping and advancing a nursing career, whether at the bedside or in the boardroom, and is a valuable tool for supporting nursing retention.
“I feel that mentorship is one of those key strategies that can help us in the crisis we are in right now with respect to nursing retention. If I can be a guiding post or sounding board to support nurses who want to stay here that is extremely worthwhile,” says Silver.
This year, Silver was matched with Master of Nursing (HSLA) student Laura Boudreau through the 2024-2025 Alumni-Graduate Student Mentorship Program. Initially, Boudreau was hesitant to sign-up for the program, knowing that as both a grad student and a parent of young children, she needed the program to be flexible.
“I’m so happy I went for it, Sarabeth was very supportive of my time constraints, and the program itself is very flexible. We were able to connect virtually and there was no pressure about how often you met with your mentor, which made it easier for me to manage,” says Boudreau.
The importance of mentorship is not lost on Boudreau. She has mentored novice nurses on clinical placements in her own unit, and she recognizes that mentorship can be invaluable at any stage of your career, noting even Chief Executive Nurses still have mentors. However, she acknowledges it hasn’t always been this way in nursing.
“I grew up hearing that nurses eat their young, but I think as a profession, we are shifting away from that narrative,” says Boudreau.
One of the highlights of having Silver as a mentor Boudreau says, is that she humanized the leadership experience and offered an impartial, third-party perspective, that was very beneficial. Boudreau felt supported in her growing interest in nursing research, with Silver providing tangible resources to help her get research funding. Silver’s approach also helped Boudreau understand that even leaders go through highs and lows.
“I always compare myself to others, but Sarabeth helped me see that the struggles you experience are not a defeat, but a normal part of your progression as a leader,” says Boudreau.
Silver was candid with Boudreau about moments when leadership opportunities she pursued have not always worked out. It was something she said she wanted to discuss to be authentic in their connection and to demonstrate that leadership includes setbacks.
“I wanted to show Laura that you can still persevere and know that there are so many opportunities within the nursing profession to explore. By sharing these lessons, I wanted her to see how you can grow and evolve as a leader from your setbacks,” says Silver.
Though they met virtually throughout the program, both Boudreau and Silver say they shared a strong and authentic connection. They met recently in-person to celebrate the end of their mentorship journey.
“I would 100 percent recommend alumni become mentors,” says Silver. “Not only is it mutually beneficial for the mentor and mentee, but you have wonderful and accessible support from the Bloomberg Nursing Advancement team.”
Feeling inspired by this story? Join the Alumni-Graduate Student Mentorship Program! Applications for the 2025-2026 academic year are now open.
Apply to be a mentee (graduate student)
For more information, please contact Jade Shortte, Alumni Relations Officer at jade.shortte@utoronto.ca or 416-946-7097.