scholarly journals Formal Mentoring in Athletic Training Higher Education: Perspectives from Participants of the National Athletic Trainers' Association Foundation Mentor Program

2018 ◽  
Vol 13 (2) ◽  
pp. 90-101
Author(s):  
Stephanie M. Mazerolle ◽  
Sara L. Nottingham ◽  
Jessica L. Barrett
Keyword(s):  
Higher Education ◽  
Athletic Training ◽  
Telephone Interview ◽  
Athletic Trainers ◽  
Professional Service ◽  
Mentoring Programs ◽  
Mentor Program ◽  
Formal Mentoring ◽  
National Athletic Trainers Association ◽  
Formal Mentoring Programs

Context: Formal mentoring programs can help to socialize new faculty members in higher education and orient them to faculty life. Organizations may implement formal mentoring programs to create connections between professionals, and formal mentoring is occurring in athletic training. Objective: To explore the experiences of athletic training faculty as they participate in a formal mentoring program. Design: Qualitative phenomenology. Setting: Higher education institutions. Patients or Other Participants: Ten members of the 2015 National Athletic Trainers' Association (NATA) Foundation Mentor Program, 6 mentees and 4 mentors. Mentees: 2 male and 4 female with an average of 3 years (±4; range, 1–12) in their current position. Mentors: 2 male and 2 female with an average of 10 years (±3; range, 6–12) of experience in their current positions. Main Outcome Measure(s): Participants completed 1 telephone interview prior to starting the NATA Mentor Program and completed 1 telephone interview upon completion of the mentor program. Participants also completed 3 online structured journals at 3-month increments while participating in the program. Two investigators independently analyzed data with a phenomenological approach, and a third investigator reviewed findings as a peer reviewer. Trustworthiness was addressed with member checking, piloting, and peer review of the interview guides, and multiple analyst triangulation. Results: Mentors completed the program as a way to stimulate collaboration and give back to the athletic training profession. Mentees sought out the program as a means to gain support in their research endeavors and to stimulate networking opportunities. Conclusions: The NATA Foundation Mentor Program offers a mutually beneficial experience for mentors and mentees, and participants were satisfied with their experiences. Mentee participants recognized the program gave them a chance to gain an external perspective and advance their research agendas, while mentors learned from their mentees and were able to use the program as a means to gain professional service.

scholarly journals Effective Characteristics of Formal Mentoring Relationships: The National Athletic Trainers' Association Foundation Research Mentor Program

2017 ◽  
Vol 12 (4) ◽  
pp. 244-255 ◽  
Author(s):  
Sara L. Nottingham ◽  
Stephanie M. Mazerolle ◽  
Jessica L. Barrett
Keyword(s):  
Athletic Trainers ◽  
Junior Faculty ◽  
Phenomenological Approach ◽  
Effective Characteristics ◽  
Mentoring Relationships ◽  
Mentor Program ◽  
Formal Mentoring ◽  
Faculty Position ◽  
Informal Mentoring ◽  
National Athletic Trainers Association

Context: Mentoring is a beneficial mechanism to support junior faculty members as they navigate job expectations, institutional nuances, and the professional landscape during the first few years as a faculty member. Whereas effective characteristics of informal mentoring relationships are generally understood, less is known about factors that contribute to formal mentoring relationships. Objective: Gain mentor and mentee perceptions of effective mentoring in a formal setting. Design: Qualitative phenomenology. Setting: Higher education institutions. Patients or Other Participants: Six mentees (4 women and 2 men with 3 ± 4 years in their current faculty position) and 4 mentors (2 women and 2 men with an average of 10 ± 3 years in their current faculty position) participating in the 2015 National Athletic Trainers' Association Foundation mentor-program cohort. Main Outcome Measure(s): Participants completed one telephone interview before starting the mentor program and one interview upon program completion 11 months later. Participants also completed 3 structured online journals at 3-month increments throughout their participation in the program. Two researchers independently analyzed the interview and journal data using a phenomenological approach. To improve trustworthiness, we used peer review and pilot testing of the interview guides, member-checks, and multiple-analyst triangulation. Results: Participants described effective mentoring relationships as those that facilitated collaboration and demonstrated humanistic qualities. Participants who collaborated on scholarly activities during their mentoring experience perceived this to be a highly valuable aspect of the experience that increased the potential for a long-lasting relationship. Whereas the mentoring focused on professional development, humanistic attributes such as approachability and personal connections further enriched participants' mentoring experiences. Conclusions: Participants in formal mentoring experiences describe effective mentoring characteristics similarly to those who have participated in informal mentoring and should be encouraged to exhibit them. Additionally, coordinators of formal mentoring programs should provide participants with resources and guidance to facilitate their experiences.

Mentoring dyads in higher education: It feels lucky, but it's more than luck

2021 ◽  
Vol ahead-of-print (ahead-of-print) ◽  
Author(s):  
Angela Fitzgerald ◽  
Noeleen McNamara
Keyword(s):  
Higher Education ◽  
Academic Community ◽  
Mentoring Programs ◽  
Mentoring Program ◽  
Formal Mentoring ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Body Of Knowledge ◽  
Self Study ◽  
Formal Mentoring Programs ◽  
Formal Mentoring Program

PurposeThe purpose of this paper is to explore the formation, maintenance and sustenance of a mentoring dyad in higher education. By investigating the reflections of a female mentor and mentee, who both engaged in a formal Mentoring Program, the intention is to inform the design of future programs and expectations of participants, enhance the quality of future practice and understand the benefits mentoring might offer to the academic community.Design/methodology/approachThe researchers utilised a self-study research design to explore their reflections of a mentoring dyad in higher education. The project was informed by a personal–constructivist–collaborative approach, with participants maintaining journals throughout the partnership. These reflections were then compared in order to understand the perceptions of the participants as their relationship developed.FindingsSix themes emerged from the analysis representing the mentoring dyad experience under three categories: (1) forming – making the match, (2) maintaining – flexibility, responsiveness, and persistence, and (3) sustaining – desire to not disappoint and reciprocal learning.Research limitations/implicationsWhile this paper focuses on the experiences of two participants, the in-depth nature of this exploration draws out significant practical considerations that can be applied to the development and/or reinvigoration of formal mentoring programs and/mentoring dyads in other contexts.Originality/valueThese unique insights into their mentoring dyad over a significant period of time add to this dynamic body of knowledge. This study gives voice to female academics and lays bare their vulnerability and openness in sharing their lived experiences of participating in a formal mentoring program.

scholarly journals Promising and Established Investigators' Experiences Participating in the National Athletic Trainers' Association Foundation Research Mentor Programa

2017 ◽  
Vol 52 (4) ◽  
pp. 368-376 ◽  
Author(s):  
Sara L. Nottingham ◽  
Stephanie M. Mazerolle ◽  
Jessica L. Barrett
Keyword(s):  
Athletic Training ◽  
Athletic Trainers ◽  
Phenomenological Approach ◽  
Mentoring Relationships ◽  
Grant Writing ◽  
Mentor Program ◽  
Novice Faculty ◽  
National Athletic Trainers Association ◽  
Research Mentor ◽  
Qualitative Phenomenological

Context:  Mentorship is a helpful resource for individuals who transition from doctoral student to tenure-track faculty member. The National Athletic Trainers' Association (NATA) Research & Education Foundation offers a Research Mentor Program to provide mentorship to promising investigators, particularly as they work to establish independent lines of research. Objective:  To gain the perspectives of promising and established investigators on their participation in the NATA Foundation Research Mentor Program. Design:  Qualitative, phenomenological research. Setting:  Higher education institutions. Patients or Other Participants:  Seven promising investigators (5 women, 2 men) and 7 established investigators (2 women, 5 men), all of whom had completed the NATA Foundation Research Mentor Program. Data Collection and Analysis We developed and piloted intervi: ew guides designed to gain participants' perspectives on their experiences participating in the NATA Foundation Research Mentor Program. Semistructured telephone interviews were completed with each individual and transcribed verbatim. Data were analyzed using a phenomenological approach, and saturation was obtained. Trustworthiness was established with the use of member checking, multiple-analyst triangulation, and data-source triangulation. Results:  Three themes emerged from the interviews: (1) motivation, (2) collaboration, and (3) resources. Participants were motivated to become involved because they saw the value of mentorship, and mentees desired guidance in their research. Participants believed that collaboration on a project contributed to a positive relationship, and they also desired additional program and professional resources to support novice faculty. Conclusions:  Promising and established investigators should be encouraged to engage in mentoring relationships to facilitate mentees' research agendas and professional development. The NATA Foundation and athletic training profession may consider providing additional resources for novice faculty, such as training on effective mentoring; grant writing and other research-related tasks; and support for broader faculty responsibilities, such as teaching, service, and work-life balance.

scholarly journals Developing a Mentorship Program in Higher Education Institutions

EDIS ◽  
2019 ◽  
Vol 2019 (2) ◽  
Author(s):  
Jonathan M. Orsini ◽  
Matthew P. Benge ◽  
Hannah S. Carter
Keyword(s):  
Higher Education ◽  
Higher Education Institutions ◽  
Mentoring Programs ◽  
Mentoring Relationships ◽  
Business Practices ◽  
Formal Mentoring ◽  
Great Cost ◽  
Mentorship Program ◽  
Organizational Challenges ◽  
Formal Mentoring Programs

Higher education institutions are currently tackling a growing number of organizational challenges that have forced departments to evolve their business practices. Administrators are faced with the need for more diverse programs which require facilities, faculty, and services, and must decide whether to develop talent internally or recruit new qualified candidates (Kutchner & Kleschick, 2016). Given the great cost of faculty searches, and the perceived diminishing availability of talented applicants, it is imperative that administrators understand the importance and value of mentoring relationships to fill needs with qualified candidates in higher education institutions. However, formal mentoring programs have been slow to develop in higher education institutions. This publication defines mentorship, explains the value of mentorship, and describes how mentoring programs can be established.

scholarly journals Certified Athletic Trainers' Knowledge of Methicillin-Resistant Staphylococcus aureus and Common Disinfectants

2011 ◽  
Vol 46 (4) ◽  
pp. 415-423 ◽  
Author(s):  
Leamor Kahanov ◽  
Elizabeth J. Gilmore ◽  
Lindsey E. Eberman ◽  
Jeffrey Roberts ◽  
Tamar Semerjian ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Staphylococcus Aureus ◽  
Infection Control ◽  
Athletic Training ◽  
Methicillin Resistant Staphylococcus Aureus ◽  
National Collegiate Athletic Association ◽  
Athletic Trainers ◽  
Cross Sectional ◽  
Certified Athletic Trainers ◽  
Methicillin Resistant ◽  
National Athletic Trainers Association

Context: Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) infections are increasingly common in athletic settings. The MRSA knowledge and infection-control practices of certified athletic trainers (ATs) and the cleanliness of the athletic training room are important factors in preventing MRSA infections. Objective: To assess knowledge of MRSA and the use of common disinfectants among ATs and to explore their infection-control practices. Design: Cross-sectional study. Setting: High school and collegiate athletic training rooms. Patients or Other Participants: A total of 163 ATs from National Collegiate Athletic Association Divisions I, II, and III and high schools, representing all 10 National Athletic Trainers' Association districts. Main Outcome Measure(s): Frequencies, analyses of variance, and χ2 tests were used to assess current practices and opinions and relationships between factors. Results: Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus was perceived as a national problem by 92% of respondents; 57% perceived MRSA as a problem in their practice setting. Most respondents had treated general infections (88%), staphylococcal infections (75%), and MRSA infections (57%). Male sex was associated with treating all 3 types of infections (χ2 test, P < .05). Noncurriculum education was associated with a lack of recognition of environmental issues as risk factors and with the use of isopropyl alcohol for disinfection (χ2 test, P < .05). For example, 10% of respondents did not recognize that contaminated whirlpools can be a source of MRSA infection. Respondents also incorrectly identified effective cleaning solutions. Thirty percent of respondents cleaned their hands frequently or sometimes before treating each athlete and 35% cleaned their hands sometimes, occasionally, or never after seeing each athlete. Conclusions: The majority of ATs were informed about MRSA and made correct disinfection choices. However, improvements are still needed, and not all ATs were using proper disinfection practices.

Professional Values: Cultivating the Social Contract with the Seeds of Professionalism

2017 ◽  
Vol 22 (1) ◽  
pp. 11-18 ◽  
Author(s):  
Gretchen A. Schlabach
Keyword(s):  
Athletic Training ◽  
Social Contract ◽  
Exploratory Study ◽  
Athletic Trainers ◽  
Self Regulation ◽  
Public Trust ◽  
Professional Values ◽  
Regulatory Standards ◽  
The Social ◽  
National Athletic Trainers Association

The profession of athletic training has not identified and explicitly articulated shared professional values (PV). Shared PV are the seeds of professionalism, and deeply rooted motivators of professional action which support the social contract through self-regulation. The purpose of this exploratory study was to: (1) discover shared PV in athletic training, (2) examine how important PV are to the National Athletic Trainers’ Association (NATA) membership, and (3) how important is it for our association to explicitly articulate professional values. This study found that truth/honesty, integrity, and respect are significant athletic training PV. PV are important (96.8%), and it is important for the association to explicitly articulate PV (96.5%). The declaration of shared PV will promote values-based behaviors and internally motivate a duty to uphold the legal, ethical, and regulatory standards of the profession. Dedication to our professional responsibilities will sustain the social contract and encourage public trust.

scholarly journals Newly Credentialed Athletic Trainers' Perceptions of Professional Preparation for Their Role as Collegiate Graduate Assistants

2018 ◽  
Vol 13 (3) ◽  
pp. 227-238 ◽  
Author(s):  
Ashley B. Thrasher ◽  
Stacy E. Walker ◽  
Dorice A. Hankemeier
Keyword(s):  
Athletic Training ◽  
Intercollegiate Athletics ◽  
Clinical Education ◽  
National Collegiate Athletic Association ◽  
Athletic Trainers ◽  
Professional Preparation ◽  
Graduate Assistant ◽  
Graduate Assistants ◽  
Data Saturation ◽  
National Athletic Trainers Association

Context: The professional preparation of newly credentialed athletic trainers (ATs) has been passionately debated. Understanding how newly credentialed ATs feel they are prepared will help enhance professional preparation. Objective: Explore newly credentialed ATs' perceptions of their professional preparation for their role. Design: Phenomenological qualitative. Setting: Phone interviews with graduate assistant ATs in the collegiate setting. Patients or Other Participants: Nineteen collegiate graduate assistants (15 female, 4 male; average age = 23 ± 0.15 years; National Collegiate Athletic Association Division I: 13, II: 3, III: 2, National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics: 2; postprofessional athletic training program: 6). Main Outcome Measure(s): Participants were recruited via an e-mail from the National Athletic Trainers' Association database sent to all certified students. Data were collected via phone interviews, which were recorded and transcribed verbatim. Interviews were conducted until data saturation occurred. Data were analyzed through phenomenological reduction, with data coded for common themes and subthemes. Credibility was established via member checks and peer debriefing. Results: Two themes emerged: facilitators and barriers. Overall, participants felt academically prepared for their role, but preparedness was often dependent on the facilitators of academic rigor, hands-on opportunities in clinical education, and their preceptor. Barriers included a lack of rigor in the academic setting, lack of active opportunities in clinical education, the culture of clinical experiences, and incongruence. Incongruence existed when students were exposed to all the competencies during didactic education, but never gained experience with some skills (eg, rehabilitation, documentation, communication) if situations never arose or they were not actively involved clinically. Conclusions: Athletic training students are being exposed to a variety of learning experiences academically, but often do not gain clinical experience if situations do not arise or preceptors do not allow active participation. To ensure new ATs are prepared, academic programs need to ensure rigor and place students with preceptors who provide active learning opportunities.

scholarly journals Development of an Instrument to Assess Athletic Trainers' Attitudes Toward Transgender Patients

2018 ◽  
Vol 53 (4) ◽  
pp. 431-436 ◽  
Author(s):  
Kristine A. Ensign ◽  
Brian M. Dodge ◽  
Debra Herbenick ◽  
Carrie L. Docherty
Keyword(s):  
Athletic Training ◽  
Response Rate ◽  
Athletic Trainers ◽  
Cross Sectional Study ◽  
Cross Sectional ◽  
Item Reduction ◽  
Gender Minorities ◽  
Semistructured Interviews ◽  
National Athletic Trainers Association ◽  
And Gender

Context:  The unique contexts in which athletic trainers (ATs) work require specific tools in order to understand their attitudes toward diverse patient populations, including sexual and gender minorities. Objective:  To develop and validate the Attitudes Toward Transgender Patients (ATTP) instrument for ATs. Design:  Cross-sectional study. Setting:  Semistructured interviews, paper-based questionnaire, and electronic questionnaire. Patients or Other Participants:  Six ATs completed semistructured interviews to develop themes regarding transgender patients. Additionally, 39 students in professional and postprofessional athletic training programs answered questionnaires designed to elicit statements regarding transgender patients. For item reduction, a sample of 3000 ATs were e-mailed (response rate = 17%), and for validation, another sample of 3000 ATs were e-mailed (response rate = 13%). Athletic trainers' e-mail addresses were obtained from the National Athletic Trainers' Association. Data Collection and Analysis:  The 3 phases were (1) exploratory interviews, (2) construct validity and item reduction, and (3) criterion validity. Items were created based on interviews and questionnaires. Principal axis factoring was used for item reduction, and Pearson correlations were used for validation. Results:  Thirty-six statements pertaining to transgender patients were developed from the interview and questionnaire data. After item reduction, 10 items remained to form the ATTP (α = .834). For validation, the ATTP and Transphobia Scale were significantly correlated (r = .723; P < .001). Conclusions:  The ability to assess attitudes toward transgender patients will allow clinicians to identify needed areas of focus for training and education. The ATTP assesses affective and cognitive attitudes and behavioral intentions toward transgender patients in common clinical settings.

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