Clinical Supervision in Rocky Roads

Clinical supervision is an essential way of support and advances professional roles of nurses. Clinical supervision includes objectives and positive functions and is an effective support system within many challenges in nursing. The aim of this study was to investigate factors affecting processes of clinical supervision from perspectives of nurses.

In this qualitative and content analysis study, 18 participants including supervisors and nurses were selected purposively. Data were collected using semi-structured interviews, document reviews, and observations. Data were collected from September 2009 to October 2010. Data were analyzed using content analysis method.

The results of the study showed that implementation of clinical supervision by supervisors were affected by individual and organizational dimensions. In the individual dimension three themes were emerged: 1) supervisors’ individual competencies; 2) supervisees’ individual competencies; and 3) interaction between the supervisors and the supervisees. The organizational dimension had four themes: 1) high work load; 2) complex nature of clinical supervision; 3) non-effective organization in supervising; and 4) inappropriate fields for monitoring.

According to the findings, several factors influenced clinical supervision including personal characteristics of supervisors and supervisees, complex nature of clinical supervision and environmental factors in hospitals. Understanding the different perceived dimensions of clinical supervision can help nurse managers to implement effective clinical supervision.