Supervision as a focal point in nurse education: an exploratory study of its effects on the needs of student nurses

This study reports the results of a 2 year follow up of the effects of experience of supervision on the personal needs of nursing students. Supervision was given during this period on a continual basis as a focal point of nursing education. Students were encouraged to relate critical incidents as starting points for the supervisory process. Students rated the quality of supervision in terms of its perceived effect on their sense of professional identity and on their self-confidence with respect to clinical work. A Swedish version of a standard personality questionnaire, the Edwards Personal Preference Schedule (EPPS), was given at the initiation of supervision and repeated 2 years later on its completion. The results of 48 students are presented. Two hypotheses relating to the global effects of supervision were not confirmed but the hypothesis concerning the effects of supervision to depend on its perceived quality was confirmed. As measured, the effectiveness of supervision was seen in statistically significant correlations between ratings of supervisory quality and changes reflecting an increased need for leadership and a diminished need for subordinance.