Mentorship, Active Listening & OARS

Mentorship

A supportive relationship in which an experienced and/or knowledgeable person guides, supports, and helps develop another person’s skills, confidence, and professional or personal growth, with a focus on learning and long-term development rather than evaluation.

Mentor

A guide or advisor who typically has more experience or expertise, shares knowledge and feedback, listens actively, asks questions, offers perspective, and helps the mentee set goals and navigate challenges.

Mentee

The learner or recipient of guidance who seeks advice and growth, sets goals, brings questions or challenges, and takes responsibility for acting on feedback and driving their own learning.

KRDN 5.6

Demonstrate an understanding of the importance and expectations of a professional in mentoring and precepting others.

CRDN 5.7

Mentor others.

Value of Mentoring and Precepting

Mentoring helps individuals enter and progress in the profession, supports graduation and career development, and strengthens professional readiness.

Benefits of Mentoring for the Mentor

Mentors gain teaching experience, continuing education hours, new perspectives, professional fulfillment, and opportunities to reflect on and strengthen their own practice.

Preceptor

A professional who provides supervised practice experiences, guidance, and mentorship to dietetic students in real-world settings.

Benefits of Precepting Students

Students assist with tasks, quality improvement, supervision, creative problem-solving, morale building, learning exchange, and breaking routine while bringing enthusiasm and new perspectives.

Preceptor CEU Benefits

Preceptors receive 3 CEU credits per semester and may earn additional CEUs through virtual preceptor trainings.

Effective Mentor Tip – Listen More Than You Talk

Focus on understanding the mentee’s goals, concerns, and context before offering advice, keeping the session centered on the mentee.

Effective Mentor Tip – Ask Guiding Questions

Use open-ended questions to promote critical thinking and problem-solving rather than giving direct answers.

Effective Mentor Tip – Set Clear Expectations

Establish goals, boundaries, communication preferences, and meeting frequency early in the relationship.

Effective Mentor Tip – Share Experiences

Discuss both successes and challenges to make guidance realistic and relatable.

Effective Mentor Tip – Provide Constructive Feedback

Offer honest, specific, and timely feedback that supports growth without discouraging the mentee.

Effective Mentee Tip – Take Ownership

Come prepared with goals, questions, and topics to guide the mentoring relationship.

Effective Mentee Tip – Be Open to Feedback

Listen without defensiveness and reflect before acting.

Effective Mentee Tip – Follow Through

Apply discussed strategies and report back on progress or challenges.

Effective Mentee Tip – Communicate Clearly

Be punctual, responsive, respectful, and honest about needs and expectations.

Effective Mentee Tip – Show Appreciation

Respect the mentor’s time and express gratitude and professionalism.

Academy Mentorship Program

A six-month guided program that connects students and early career professionals with experienced mentors to support goal achievement and career preparation in nutrition and dietetics.

Dietetic Practice Groups

Optional professional groups available to Academy members that provide networking, learning, and professional development opportunities.

Class Mentorship Expectations

Actively participate as both mentor and mentee, remain professional and respectful, maintain confidentiality, stay engaged, and support peers.

Post-Activity Reflection

A 300–400 word reflection addressing professional expectations in mentoring, one skill practiced as a mentor, and one insight gained as a mentee.

Active Listening

A communication skill involving focused attention, minimal verbal responses, appropriate eye contact, and nonverbal cues to show understanding.

Active Listening Practice

A short exercise where one person listens with minimal verbal input while the other shares a personal topic.

Motivational Interviewing

A client-centered counseling approach that supports behavior change by helping individuals explore and resolve ambivalence.

OARS

A set of motivational interviewing skills including Open-ended questions, Affirmations, Reflective listening, and Summaries.

Open-Ended Questions

Questions that cannot be answered with yes or no and encourage elaboration and discussion.

Affirmations

Statements that recognize and praise a client’s strengths, efforts, and positive qualities to build confidence and self-efficacy.

Reflective Listening

Paraphrasing or reflecting back what a client says to demonstrate understanding and encourage deeper sharing.

Summaries

Pulling together key points from a conversation to reinforce understanding, highlight change talk, and transition topics.

OARS Practice

A structured activity where participants practice motivational interviewing skills by discussing small, personal health or wellness behavior changes.