A nursing education prepares students with clinical knowledge but once in the workforce, patients and health systems rely on nurses to quickly and effectively transform care. This transition can be fast and demanding for young nurses.
Aaron Pitt Jr., a sophomore at Drexel University and recipient of a J&J Nursing Scholarship through the Foundation of the National Student Nurses Association, saw an opportunity to bridge that gap when he was offered a chance to participate in Nursing Alliance EBRG’s Nurse Mentorship Program he saw an opportunity to bridge that gap. Now, paired with his mentor Bryan Pemberton, a Johnson & Johnson employee and registered nurse, he has someone to turn to as he navigates his career path.
“The mentorship program has been amazing for me,” Aaron shares. “I have access to so much knowledge and guidance. It’s encouraging—it makes me feel like I’m ahead.
That support shows up in practical and profound ways: working through difficult decisions, sharing hard-won experience and helping Aaron make sense of what lies ahead as he enters healthcare.
“It’s powerful to have someone who’s been there,” Aaron says. “Someone who can help you think through what you’re trying to figure out.”
Bryan understands firsthand how much that early support matters. His own career was shaped by mentors and he sees mentorship as a way to pay that forward.
“What it means to be a nurse mentor is having the ability to help and impact those that are the future of healthcare—those who are going to ensure patient care is maintained and advance care beyond where it is today.”
Making a difference for the next generation
Our Credo begins with a clear commitment to patients, doctors and nurses. Through J&J CareCommunity and our Nurse Mentorship Program, that commitment comes to life. By connecting aspiring nurses with J&J employees that have nursing experience, we help them seamlessly enter the workforce.
When nurses receive the support and mentorship they need, they enter the workforce with confidence, and that confidence empowers them to fully step into their calling.
“Nursing is one of the most challenging things, but it’s also one of the most rewarding,” Aaron reflects. “You get to work hand in hand with someone—not only helping them get better, but even if situations don’t get better you can make it better. You play a role. You can be the change you want to see.”
Supporting students like Aaron means supporting every patient they will care for throughout their careers.
“You’re helping these individuals that are going to go out and have a tremendous impact on patient care—it’s the next generation,” Bryan says.
