Clinical supervision using video-conferencing technology: a reflective account

Area of Science:

• Nursing
• Healthcare Management
• Educational Technology

Background:

• Clinical supervision is crucial for professional development in nursing.
• Remote delivery methods, such as video-conferencing (VC), are increasingly explored.
• Understanding practitioner experiences with VC supervision is essential.

Purpose of the Study:

• To explore nursing practitioners' experiences with clinical supervision delivered via video-conferencing.
• To investigate the impact of remote clinical supervision on professional practice development.
• To identify facilitators and barriers to effective VC clinical supervision.

Main Methods:

• Supportive action research methodology over 18 months.
• Involved 40 community and hospital nurses across various specialties.
• Data collected via questionnaires, repertory grids, focus groups, and narratives.

Main Results:

• Clinical supervision via VC improved reflective and problem-solving skills.
• Participants reported increased confidence, self-awareness, and insight into peer practices.
• Challenges included technical issues, accessibility, communication problems, and lack of support.

Conclusions:

• Clinical supervision is vital for nursing practice development, whether remote or in-person.
• Video-conferencing offers potential but requires robust technical and training protocols.
• Addressing support and education gaps is key for successful remote supervision implementation.