Mentorship Program

 A: Although we will try our best to pair all applicants, we cannot guarantee pairing due to the varying number of applicants, practice areas, and other professional areas of interest.

A: The following two quotes best answer this question:

• • “Mentoring is an essential component of occupational therapy practice around the globe. It is both a relationship and a process between at least two individuals that provides support and an exchange of knowledge and expertise” ( Doyle et al., 2016; Williams & Kim, 2011).

• • “Mentoring affords personalised learning for professional growth. Research across disciplines has shown mentoring to positively affect behaviour, attitude, motivation, job performance, organisational commitment, and career productivity and success” (Doyle et al., 2019).

A: An OT or OTA with an active Tennessee license and 2 years experience practicing occupational therapy.

A: A MENTOR is an experienced practitioner who takes on the role of an advisor and “works closely with a mentee for the purposes of teaching, guiding, supporting, and facilitating professional growth and development” (Nolinske, 1995; Taylor, 1992; Yates et al., 1997).

A MENTEE is an occupational therapy practitioner or student who is supported, advised, and encouraged by the mentor.

We strongly encourage a mutually beneficial relationship where both parties work equally to keep in communication. 

A: A mentor will be paired with only ONE mentee.

A: A licensed occupational therapy practitioner mentoring a licensed occupational therapy practitioner can qualify for CEUs. Please see link for more information: https://publications.tnsosfiles.com/rules/1150/1150.htm. The TNOTA Mentorship Committee is advocating to gain CEU credit for practitioners who are mentoring students, as well as advocating for CEU credit for new practitioners who are mentees. We will continue to update the website throughout this process. 

A: All practice areas including acute care adults and pediatrics; early intervention; geriatrics; inpatient rehabilitation; home health pediatrics and adults; mental health; NICU; outpatient adults, neuro, orthopedics, pediatrics; school-based; skilled nursing; and other areas of practice.  Non-clinical areas such as academia, advocacy, entrepreneurship, leadership, policy, research, telehealth, and other non-clinical areas will also be available for mentorship.

A: Ten months. You MUST complete an application prior to the application deadline. 

A: Monthly interaction/discussion between Mentee and Mentor is required. In person or virtual meetings (i.e. FaceTime, Zoom, Skype, etc.) are highly encouraged. 

A: Pairings will be based upon number of mentors and mentees, geographic region, current practice setting or interests, practice setting experience (for practitioners), other relevant areas of interest (advocacy, leadership, research, etc.), other professional involvement and experience, Level I and Level II fieldwork placements (for students), other personal and professional characteristics, among other application information. 

A: TNOTA will provide a List of Suggested Topics for reference throughout the program Cycle. TNOTA also offers Mentorship Resources.

A: The survey data will be used to further the success of the TNOTA Occupational Therapy Mentorship Program. 

A: About 1 hour per month to meet with mentor/mentee for the duration of the 10 month program, in addition to the time required to complete goal setting documents and monthly lesson plans that are submitted to the committee for review.