Group supervision in nursing care. A longitudinal study of psychiatric nurses´ experiences and conceptions

The purpose of group supervision in nursing care is to understand nurses’ experiences from real care settings and to structure these in a professional and personal context. An interventional and longitudinal method of research was chosen in this study of group supervision in nursing care. The overall aim of the present study was to examine and investigate how psychiatric nurses’ professional competence changed over time as a result of group supervision in nursing care. The sample consisted of two groups (N=12) of nurses, who received clinical supervision over a period of two years. The study is composed of three interim studies. The aim of Interim study 1 was to describe how psychiatric nurses experienced group supervision in nursing care. A questionnaire was constructed to investigate if, and to what degree, the participants experienced safety, trust and learning during the supervision sessions. The questions asked focused on the concepts ‘a feeling of friendship’, ‘allowing atmosphere’, ‘understanding’ and ‘competence’. Data was analysed using descriptive statistics, and the informants’ comments were categorised. Dairy notes were presented as a background to the ratings, words and quotations. The supervision process was analysed based on theories on supervision, including Maslow’s need theory. The results showed that the supervision climate was, to a high degree, characterised by safety, trust and learning regardless of when the rating was made. The theoretical basis of the interim study and the most common words and expressions appearing in the results were used to design a general model of supervision. The aim of Interim studies 2 and 3 was to investigate the influence of supervision in nursing care, after one and after two years of ongoing supervision as well as four years after completed supervision, on the psychiatric nurses’ professional competence. Data consisted in answers provided during interviews with the informants. Data was analysed according to the phenomenographical method. Interim studies 2 and 3 resulted in four description categories: ‘a feeling of job satisfaction’, ‘gaining knowledge and competence’, ‘gaining a sense of security in nursing situations’ and ‘a feeling of personal development’. In Interim study 3, an additional two description categories emerged: ‘realising the value of supervision’ and ‘a sense of professional solidarity’. The findings gave valuable proof that group supervision in nursing care has a lasting influence on nurses’ professional competence in the form of a distinct professional identity and an integrated nursing care perspective. Group supervision contributes to maintaining the participants’ strength and energy to carry on working, which makes continuing supervision necessary