Nursing and Allied Health Professions Mentor/Mentee Program for Harford Community College Nursing Students

Susie Lovaglio (left) and Julianna Swyka (right) are shown in Harford Community College's Pediatric and OB Simulation Lab where they practice nursing skills under the supervision of clinical staff. A large part of their hands-on learning occurs in the skills lab.

Harford Community College’s Nursing and Allied Health Division established a new mentor-mentee program for nursing students at the start of the spring 2026 semester designed to foster supportive, professional, and respectful mentor–mentee relationships between nursing students. The goal of the program, which utilizes the American Medical Surgical Nurses (AMSN) Mentor Program Framework, is to promote academic success, personal growth, and professional development while maintaining healthy boundaries and mutual respect.

To become a mentor, a student must be in good academic standing and complete mentor training. Each mentor pair is supported by a staff or faculty advisor.

Mentees are selected from incoming first semester nursing students based on answers they provide on the Program Intake Questionnaire. Students answer questions about academic risk, and those with a high score based on the intake are prioritized.

Mentor/mentee pairs meet for a minimum of 30 minutes per month during the semester (many meet more frequently) to discuss learning strategies, professional development, and/or time‑management skills, as outlined in their mentoring contract. The contract outlines the roles and responsibilities for each party.

There were nine mentor-mentee pairs in the spring semester, and five pairs have been established for the summer session.

According to nursing student Julianna Swyka, who is a mentee, "Harford's mentorship program allows new nursing students to gain familiarity and grounding within the program by engaging with conversation and guidance from their assigned mentor in a safe and accepting environment."

Mentor Susie Lovaglio said, “It has been a pleasure to participate in the first group of mentorship pairings in Harford’s Registered Nursing program. The experience was meaningful both personally and academically. Watching Julianna grow throughout the semester—and knowing I played a part in that growth—was incredibly fulfilling. I saw her confidence build as our relationship developed, which motivated me to continue strengthening my own leadership skills.

I enjoyed sharing insights from previous semesters, and it was rewarding to see her go from shy and unsure to confident and bold. We built a special connection, and I’m grateful for it. We talked about everything from test‑taking strategies and communicating with both peers and instructors to finding fun nursing shoes. I truly feel I made a positive impact in Julianna's life, and I’m excited to continue mentoring here at Harford.”

Sarah Holler, MSN, MS, RN, CCRN, Nursing Student Success and Retention Specialist, oversees the program. She stated, “So much of a new nurse’s experience is shaped by the relationship they build with their preceptor. A nurse preceptor serves as a formal mentor during orientation, and many of these relationships extend well beyond that period. The preceptor, an experienced nurse, guides the preceptee in developing confidence, clinical skills, sound judgment, and critical‑thinking abilities.

“One of the most meaningful parts of my nursing career, and beyond, was both having a mentor and serving as one. When I transitioned from the hospital setting into academia, I recognized an opportunity to create meaningful connections between first semester nursing students and our more experienced third‑ and fourth-semester students. Advice shared by someone who has recently navigated the same coursework, workload, and challenges, while striving to maintain school‑life balance, can be incredibly impactful.

Using the AMSN Framework I was familiar with from hospital practice, I developed a structured mentoring contract to support student needs while maintaining appropriate boundaries. With the support of my colleagues, Professors Mary Kate Wiegand and Shana Skeffrey, we facilitated a mentor training workshop, ensured mentor pairs were established, and supported students as they began their mentoring relationships.

My favorite part of this program is seeing the mentor pairs sitting together, hearing them reflect on what they’ve learned from one another, and watching them support each other’s growth. The success of this first group is evident in the stories they share and the way they show up for one another."

For additional information about Harford’s Nursing program, visit https://www.harford.edu/admissions/nursing/index.php.