SUPERVISION IN NURSING

What is Supervision?
According to Merriam Webster Dictionary, supervision is a noun described as the watching, overseeing, critical intense directing of a course of action or particular activities. Supervision can also be described as a process of interaction between an experienced practitioner and one or more less experienced practitioners.

CLINICAL SUPERVISION
Clinical supervision is a formal process of professional support and learning which enables individual practitioners to develop knowledge and competence, assume responsibility for their own practice and enhance consumer protection and safety of care in complex clinical situations (DH,1993)

Objectives of Clinical Supervision

Improve service delivery through the use of evaluation systems Provide learning opportunities Provides structural approach to deeper reflection on clinical practice Promote standardized performance of core skills Improve efficiency and effectiveness

Objectives of Clinical supervision contd.

Support for supervisees, and a forum to discuss clinical issues Improve quality practice Improve job satisfaction and self confidence Improve communication among practitioners Promote accountability and responsibility Improve risk management and performance management.

Clinical Supervision Process

Programme planning Programme implementation Programme Evaluation

Clinical Supervision: Planning.

Identify and engage the superviors and the supervisees Establish clear goals and objectives for the programme Develop recruitment strategy for supervisors Develop a supervisor-supervisee strategy Ensure sufficient training and support for supervisors

Clinical Supervision: Implementation

Professional boundary setting and conduct Determine supervisees learning goals Establish clearly defined resolution protocols Maintain confidentiality Dialogue and interactive sessions should be employed to introduce change Personal issues should not be the focus of the supervisor

Clinical supervision: Implementation contd

Build a solid working relationship with those to be supervised Employ counselling skills for effective supervision Ensure regular supervisory sessions

Functions of supervisors
Counselling, teaching and consultation Personal Support and development Professional support and development Skills building

Supervisors roles
As a clinical instructor, the clinical supervisor is to: Evaluate clinical interactions in all situations Identify and reinforce actions by the supervisees Teach and demonstrate counselling techniques Explain rational for strategies and interventions

Supervisors roles contd.

Interpret significant events in the counselling process Challenge the supervisee in a constructive manner

Characters of a good clinical supervisor

Available: open, receptive, trusting, nonthreatening Accessible; easy to approach and speak freely with Able: having real knowledge and skills to transmit Amiable: Pleasant, friendly, assuring and flexible Firm: assertive, disciplined and focused.

Benefits of Clinical supervision

Improved quality of care Improved core professional skills Improved job satisfaction Improved retention of practitioners Support for supervisees Improves professionals interpersonal relationship

Supervision of Instruction
Defined by Brown as activities performed directly with teachers for the purpose of improving their delivery of classroom instruction and consequently student learning Defined by Knoll as the direct attention given to individual teachers by administrators for the purpose of improving classroom instruction

Purpose of Supervision of Instruction

To stimulate professional growth in educational professionals and administrators. To reinforce and enhance teaching practices that will contribute to improved student learning

Areas of focus for the supervisor

Educational Progress of students Insructional strategies and techniques utilized by teachers Teacherss adherence to curricular objectives Establishment and maintenance of suitable learning environment

Assessing students progress

Utilizing students basic data to design instructional strategies Formative and summative diagnostic processes e.g. continuous assessment tests, examinations, tutorials, etc Records of students progress Feedback to students and parents

Instructional strategies
Lesson plan with well defined objectives Presentation of lesson Plan Classroom management Practical sessions Monitoring students progress

Curricular Objectives
Curriculum guides Course outlines Learning materials/ teaching aids Assessment measures

Suitable learning environment

appropriate lighting and ventilation to promote comfort Good work habits and discipline Safety and welfare of students Regular communication with students Health of students Recognition d reinforcement of behaviours Discipline and reprimand for misbehaviours

Supervisory strategies
Informal / Formal visits Information gathering Pre and Post Teacher conferencing Staff development

conclusion
The supervision of instruction is by design a developmental process with the main purpose of improving teaching specifically and instructional programme generally. Supervisory function is best utilized as a continuous process rather one that responds to sporadic problems. Planned ,continuous and goal oriented supervision programme should be put in place in place for health facilities and nursing training institutions

 THANK YOU FOR YOUR ATTENTION