Effects of process-oriented group supervision - a comparison of three groups of student nurses

Abstract

Aim: To evaluate student nurses' perceptions of the effects of process-oriented group supervision provided during their undergraduate education.

Background: Supervision is an important ability and part of a nurse's leadership role. Student nurses need to learn competence in clinical practice.

Method: A descriptive-correlational study comparing three groups of student nurses (n = 151) who attended process-oriented group supervision during their education.

Findings: The effects of process-oriented group supervision were increased awareness of interpersonal, professional and communication skills. There was a moderate relation between the three factors. The strongest correlation was found between the factors professional and communication skills (r = 0.81). The correlations between the factors in group 3, the mandatory group, were identical.

Conclusions: By correlating the factors, we concluded that the student nurses' perceptions of the effects of process-oriented group supervision strengthened their professional identity, which may have a bearing on patient safety, nursing leadership and collaboration with the patient, her/his family members and other professionals.

Implication for nursing leadership: There is potential for improving the links between nursing leadership, supervision and patient safety.

Keywords: group supervision; nursing education; nursing leadership; process-oriented student nurses; professional identity.