Exploring The Concept Of Clinical Supervision Among Nurse Supervisees: A Study At The 37 Military Hospital.

ABSTRACT Clinical Supervision (CS) is considered as a form of professional support and learning activity that takes place between a supervisor and a supervisee. CS helps nurses to adapt to their new roles, improve their skills, knowledge and improve their decision making abilities. Although a large amount of theoretical literature exists in the areas of CS, little research has been conducted in the area of nurse supervisee’s perception about the concept. Some nurse supervisees complain about the level of support received from the experienced nurses in developing their professional competencies. The supervisees percieve the actions of supervisors at the unit level as being more managerial than supportive in nature. The study sought to explore the perception, function, stages and elements of Clinical supervision among nurse supervisees working at the 37 Military Hospital. A qualitative exploratory design was employed for the study. Purposive sampling techniques was used to recruit eleven (11) participants. Thematic content analysis was used to analyse the data. The findings of the study indicated that nurse supervisees have varied perception of the CS process. The participants acknowledged that the stages of CS implemented by the various supervisors was not structured and formalized. However successful implementation of CS guarantees the provision of quality health care service and the standardization of nursing procedures and activities. The supervisee held the view that supervisor must be guided by an institutional protocol and consider their learning needs and deficiencies during the CS process.