Finding a Mentor
Start with CRNAs you've worked with
Your clinical preceptors, department colleagues, and charge CRNAs already know your work. A mentorship relationship often grows naturally from a professional one. Ask: 'Would you be open to meeting for coffee once a month? I'd love your perspective on my career path.'
AANA Wellness Ambassador Network
AANA maintains a network of experienced CRNAs who volunteer as mentors. This is formalized, structured, and specifically designed for new grads and CRNAs in transition.
State association meetings
Show up to your state CRNA association events. Introduce yourself. Experienced CRNAs who attend state meetings are often the type who enjoy mentoring — they're already investing time in the profession.
LinkedIn and professional networks
Connect with CRNAs whose career path you admire. A respectful cold message — 'I'm a new grad CRNA in [state], I admire your career in [specialty], would you be open to a brief conversation?' — works more often than you'd think.
Don't limit yourself to one mentor
Different mentors serve different needs. A clinical mentor for case guidance, a career mentor for job decisions, a financial mentor for 1099/investment strategy. Build a personal board of advisors.
What Good Mentorship Looks Like
Good Mentor Traits
- Listens more than they talk
- Asks questions instead of giving orders
- Shares failures as openly as successes
- Respects your autonomy and decisions
- Available but not overbearing
- Honest — even when it's uncomfortable
- Celebrates your wins genuinely
Red Flags in Mentors
- • Only talks about themselves
- • Dismisses your goals or ideas
- • Uses the relationship for their benefit
- • Gatekeeps information or connections
- • Pressures you into decisions
- • Gossips about other colleagues
- • Can't acknowledge their own mistakes
Structuring the Relationship
Monthly check-in (30-60 min)
Coffee, phone call, or video. Come prepared with specific questions or situations you want to discuss. Don't waste their time with small talk.
Quarterly career review
Bigger picture: Am I growing? Is my compensation competitive? Should I pursue a specialty? Am I on track for my 5-year goals?
As-needed clinical consult
A quick text or call when you encounter a challenging case or clinical question. 'Hey, I had a patient with X today — how would you have handled Y?' This builds clinical judgment over time.
Annual goal-setting
At the start of each year, discuss your professional goals. At the end, review what you accomplished. This accountability structure is what separates mentorship from casual advice.
Becoming a Mentor
You don't need 20 years of experience to mentor someone. A CRNA with 3 years of practice has invaluable wisdom for a new grad or SRNA. Here's how to give back:
Precept SRNAs
The most direct form of mentorship. Your clinical teaching shapes the next generation. Earn Class B CPC credits while doing it.
Join your state association's mentorship program
Many state CRNA associations run formal mentor-mentee matching. Volunteer — the time commitment is typically 1-2 hours/month.
Be available in your department
When a new CRNA starts at your facility, be the person who checks in on them. A simple 'how's it going?' in the break room can open the door to a meaningful relationship.
Share your mistakes
The most valuable thing a mentor offers isn't expertise — it's the permission to be imperfect. When you share your own failures and what you learned, you give the mentee permission to be honest about their struggles.