title: Bridging the gap between theory and practice: a supervision programme for nursing students.
abstract: This paper describes nursing students' views of a supervision programme provided during the second semester of their education, which was their first period of nursing practice. A form with open questions and a 24-item questionnaire were completed by the 28 nursing students. The analysis of their responses was a combination of factor analysis and grounded theory approach, based on comparative analysis. The results indicate two specific effects of the programme: personal growth and integration of knowledge. The process of creating knowledge includes four stages: awareness of concepts and phenomena, development of a 'language of caring', development of a 'model' of communication, and reflection gained as an effect of the intervention. The nursing students reported that reflection was a way to bridge the gap between theory and practice. Their views of the effect of the supervision showed high values for the following three factors: improved interpersonal skills, improved professional skills, and improved communication skills.
authors.affiliation: Ersta University College, Department of Nursing and Health Sciences, Ersta Hospital, Stockholm, Sweden.
authors.forename: E I
authors.initials: EI
authors.lastname: Severinsson
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D004506:Education, Nursing / Q000379:methods*; D005163:Factor Analysis, Statistical; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007858:Learning; D008297:Male; D016294:Models, Nursing; D009742:Nursing Theory; D013338:Students, Nursing; D013548:Sweden; D013663:Teaching / Q000379:methods*