Marjorie Funk, RN, nursing research mentor extraordinaire

Connecticut Nursing News, Jun-Aug 1998 by Parkosewich, Janet

Generally speaking, mentoring is the development of an informal relationship between an older, wiser leader (the mentor) and a younger individual who shows enthusiasm and promise for the future (the protege).

When nurses are engaged in conversation about mentoring they frequently share one or more stories about the positive influence a mentoring relationship had on their career development. More than likely you hear how exciting and fulfilling it was to be inspired or encouraged by a successful role model. You also may hear how much (sometimes way beyond their wildest dreams) each nurse was able to accomplish because of the knowledge, expertise and networking capabilities of their mentor.

When speaking specifically to mentors you also learn that they gain just as much from this type of relationship. Mentors experience much delight and self satisfaction watching their proteges evolve into productive and successful contributors to the nursing profession.

In the cardiovascular nursing world at Yale-New Haven Hospital (YNHH), I have had the pleasure of conversing with staff nurses, graduate and doctoral students, clinical nurse specialists, nurse managers and clinical directors about their experiences with mentoring relationships. Through these conversations it has become clear that Marjorie Funk, PhD, RN, CCRN, known fondly to all of us as Marge, has distinguished herself as the most prominent example of an extraordinary mentor.

Marge has recently achieved tenure at Yale University School of Nursing where she is an Associate Professor, Adult Advanced Practice Nursing Program and Coordinator of the Cardiovascular Nursing Speciality. Every summer we look forward to Marge's return to the bedside in the Coronary Care Unit where she practices as a staff nurse.

Marge is most noted for her mentoring skills in the area of nursing research. Under her watchful eye, proteges of Marge will be certain not only to complete a noteworthy research project but will also find themselves, at the Year's end, published in a respected nursing or medical journal as well as standing on stage at a national meeting contributing to the scientific body of cardiovascular nursing knowledge.

Many nurses from YNHH have had the privilege of claiming Marge as their mentor. Over the last ten years YNHH nurses have published with Marge in the American Cardiovascular Nursing, Circulation, The Diabetes Educator, Dimensions of Critical Care Nursing, Focus on Critical Care, Heart and Lung, and Image: Journal of Nursing Scholarship. YNHH nurses have given oral and poster presentations at countless local and regional meetings as well as two of the most prestigious national meetings, the Scientific Sessions of the American Heart Association and the National Teaching Institute American Association of Critical Care Nurses.

To accomplish these goals Marge spends innumerable hours inspiring, advising, coaching, guiding, cheering and encouraging nurses through every step of the research project from start to finish. Incidentally, Marge's standard for what she considers the finished product includes her assistance painstakingly editing the manuscript for publication, overseeing the methodical construction of the poster for presentation or assuring that the oral presentation is perfectly timed, has eye catching slides and that the answer to every question imaginable has been well rehearsed. Marjorie Funk is truly a nursing research mentor extraordinaire!

In 1995 both Marjorie Funk and Janet Parkosewich received a Diamond Jubilarium Award. They were recognized for their outstanding contributions. Marjorie Funk received The Virginia A. Henderson Award For Outstanding Contributions to Nursing Research and Janet Parkosewich received The Florence S. Wald Award for Outstanding Contributions to Nursing Practice.

Adapted with permission from Parkosewich J. (1997). Marjorie Funk, RN, Nursing research mentor extraordinaire. Yale-New Haven Hospital Nursing Update, 15(4), 2-3.