Peer-to-Peer Mentoring Overview ESRD? Peer mentoring is a form of advising that generally Peer mentors can serve several roles, including: takes place between a person who has lived through a Providing information • specific experience and a person who is new to that Listening to concerns • experience. In the world of end stage renal disease Sharing experiences • (ESRD), peer mentoring empowers patients to help Promoting positive behavior • other patients move forward and cope with life after Offering encouragement • being diagnosed with kidney disease. Peer mentoring: Relieving anxiety • Provides a for patients to learn from one another to understand the benefits of controlling their health and being involved in Peer mentors can come from all backgrounds. They their own care should be individuals with positive outlooks on Helps close the gap in communication managing kidney disease who: between dialysis staff and patients; peer Are succeeding at achieving their own mentors act as intermediaries to ensure that treatment goals staff understand patients’ concerns, issues, Can provide insight to help others and priorities successfully manage kidney disease Provides an essential support system that Are willing to listen and provide support helps to increase the confidence of new kidney patients Peer mentors should: Peer-mentoring provides an environment of learning Wait for a patient’s consent before and support from someone who has been through the approaching them as a mentor same experience and has a good understanding of all Not provide medical advice. If a peer mentor that dialysis involves. It can: is asked for medical advice, he/she should Provide additional support beyond that of refer the patient to the dialysis staff or family and friends nephrologist Provide essential support for those who do not Encourage mentees to use the facility’s have friends or family to assist them grievance procedure if a patient shares a Increase resistance to stress-related anxiety complaint with them. (The social worker and depression serves as a patient advocate and can help with Aid patients in making needed lifestyle patient complaints.) changes by helping them realize helpful ways Always get permission from a mentee before of coping and taking personal responsibility approaching a staff member about that Which could result in patients living patient’s concerns and/or sharing any longer and healthier lives information obtained in the role of a peer mentor
Peer-to-Peer Mentoring Overview ESRD? Peer mentoring is a form of advising that generally takes place between a person who has lived through a specific experience and a person who is new to that experience. In the world of end stage renal disease (ESRD), peer mentoring empowers patients to help other patients move forward and cope with life after being diagnosed with kidney disease. Peer mentoring: Provides a for patients to learn from one another to understand the benefits of controlling their health and being involved in their own care Helps close the gap in communication between dialysis staff and patients; peer mentors act as intermediaries to ensure that staff understand patients’ concerns, issues, and priorities Provides an essential support system that helps to increase the confidence of new kidney patients Peer-mentoring provides an environment of learning and support from someone who has been through the same experience and has a good understanding of all that dialysis involves. It can: Provide additional support beyond that of family and friends Provide essential support for those who do not have friends or family to assist them Increase resistance to stress-related anxiety and depression Aid patients in making needed lifestyle changes by helping them realize helpful ways of coping and taking personal responsibility Which could result in patients living longer and healthier lives Peer mentors can serve several roles, including: • Providing information • Listening to concerns • Sharing experiences • Promoting positive behavior • Offering encouragement • Relieving anxiety Peer mentors can come from all backgrounds. They should be individuals with positive outlooks on managing kidney disease who: Are succeeding at achieving their own treatment goals Can provide insight to help others successfully manage kidney disease Are willing to listen and provide support Peer mentors should: Wait for a patient’s consent before approaching them as a mentor Not provide medical advice. If a peer mentor is asked for medical advice, he/she should refer the patient to the dialysis staff or nephrologist Encourage mentees to use the facility’s grievance procedure if a patient shares a complaint with them. (The social worker serves as a patient advocate and can help with patient complaints.) Always get permission from a mentee before approaching a staff member about that patient’s concerns and/or sharing any information obtained in the role of a peer mentor