Experience suggests mentors need not be nurses - it is more important for them to be effective leaders and managers with the skills to help participants develop as leaders, network effectively, and plan and implement effective country projects. Increasingly, nurses are selecting their mentors strategically, with or without a nursing background, for their skills and ability to assist and enable the development of the individual participants, and nursing generally, in their countries. Mentors attend all or part of the workshops according to their other commitments, with costs being met from the program. The IDPs are entirely a participant responsibility. A format is provided to assist participants plan to meet their own development needs and career goals in a structured way.
Mentors can guide and coach participants and be a valuable resource.
Participants may also seek out other resources to assist them.