It takes a special person to be a mentor. It takes time, energy, and commitment. “I became a mentor from a desire to see other people grow and develop and to assist them to do just that,” says Barbara Brunt, MA, MN, RN-BC, NE-BC, director of nursing education and staff development at the Summa Health System in Akron, OH.

Brunt has been recognized nationally for her ability to mentor others. She is a recipient of the National Nursing Staff Development Organization’s Outstanding Mentor Award, which is given to recognize the dedication and commitment of a nurse to mentoring other nurses and assisting with their professional development.