Psychiatric nurses' conceptions of how a group supervision programme in nursing care influences their professional competence : a 4-year follow-up study

• AIM: The aim of the study was to describe, after 4 years, psychiatric nurses' conceptions of how a 2-year group supervision programme within nursing care had influenced their professional competence.BACKGROUND: The intention of group supervision in nursing care is to understand nurses' experiences within real care settings and to structure these in a professional and personal context.METHODS: Ten psychiatric nurses participated in a 2-year group supervision programme. They were interviewed 4 years after the group supervision was ended. Data were analysed according to the phenomenographic method.FINDINGS: Six description categories emerged: a feeling of job satisfaction; gaining knowledge and competence; gaining a sense of security in nursing situations; a feeling of personal development; realizing the value of supervision; and a sense of professional solidarity.CONCLUSIONS: The findings of the 4-year follow-up showed that a group supervision programme in nursing care had lasting influences on the psychiatric nurses' professional competence in the form of a pronounced professional identity and an integrated nursing care perspective. Group supervision contributes to maintaining the strength and energy needed to carry on working, which makes continuing supervision necessary.IMPLICATIONS: An important research implication could be to investigate the type of knowledge that ought to be developed within group supervision in nursing care.© 2001 Blackwell Science Ltd.

Subject headings

MEDICIN OCH HÄLSOVETENSKAP  -- Hälsovetenskap -- Omvårdnad (hsv//swe)

MEDICAL AND HEALTH SCIENCES  -- Health Sciences -- Nursing (hsv//eng)

Keyword

Nursing

Psychiatry

Supervision programme

Professional competence

Nursing

Omvårdnad

Publication and Content Type

ref (subject category)

art (subject category)