The effects of professional group supervision of nurses--utilizing the nurse self description form

All the registered nurses in two orthopaedic wards participated in a four-month period of professional group supervision. The main focus of the supervision was professional identity. The effect was measured by the Nurse Self Description Form, a 21-item paper-and-pencil form for nurses to judge themselves in comparison to other nurses. The nurses answered the form before and after the period of supervision. They increased their total scores significantly. Some single items were influenced more than others. The results argue in favour of group supervision as a useful mean of strengthening the professional identity of nurses.