Given the nursing faculty shortage, innovative strategies are needed to attract and retain talented individuals in the academic setting. Mentoring programs have a positive effect on nursing clinicians turned educators. A successful mentoring relationship guides the neophyte educator into a successful teaching career through better adjustment and professional academic advancement. Ten essential ingredients of effective mentoring programs are presented based on the lived experience of a protégé and mentor and a review of mentoring literature. Positive outcomes of successful mentoring programs for the neophyte educator include a collegial relationship with the mentor, improved job satisfaction in a faculty role, improved quality of nursing education, and retention in the nursing education profession.