First-line managers' views of the long-term effects of clinical supervision: how does clinical supervision support and develop leadership in health care?
There have recently been several organizational changes that have challenged nursing managers in the Finnish health care system. First-line managers need support in their work because of organizational changes and scarce economic resources. One of these supportive measures is clinical supervision. A group of first-line managers in a Finnish University hospital participated in a 2-year clinical supervision intervention in 1999-2000. The managers' perceptions of the clinical supervision were followed up twice during the intervention and 1 year after (2001). The aim of this study is to describe how the first-line managers saw the future effects of the clinical supervision intervention 1 year after its termination. At the beginning of the intervention, the number of participating nursing managers was 32. The number of respondents in this study 1 year (2001) after the clinical supervision was 11. Data was collected using empathy-based stories, which involved writing short essays. The respondents received orientation and a script to assist them in the writing of essays. The stories were analysed qualitatively by categorizing the responses by themes. The managers deemed that clinical supervision had, in the 3-year time frame, positive long-term effects on their leadership and communication skills, the desire for self-development, self-knowledge and coping. Managers believed that in the long run, clinical supervision would provide them with a broader perspective on work and would enhance the use of clinical supervision as a supportive measure among co-workers. First-line managers expect clinical supervision to have long-term positive effects on their work and coping. Empathy-based stories, as a method, were found suited to studies, which aim to obtaining future-oriented knowledge.
Hyrkäs
Kristiina
K
Faculty of Nursing, University of Northern British Columbia, British Columbia, Canada. hyrkask@unbc.ca
Appelqvist-Schmidlechner
Kaija
K
Kivimäki
Kirsti
K
D000223:Adaptation, Psychological; D001291:Attitude of Health Personnel; D002983:Clinical Competence / Q000592:standards*; D003142:Communication; D004645:Empathy; D005387:Finland; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D005544:Forecasting; D007722:Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice; D006301:Health Services Needs and Demand; D006785:Hospitals, University; D006801:Humans; D007400:Interprofessional Relations; D007857:Leadership; D033262:Narration; D009718:Nurse Administrators / Q000193:education / Q000458:organization & administration / Q000523:psychology*; D015404:Nursing Methodology Research; D009745:Nursing, Supervisory / Q000458:organization & administration*; D015279:Organizational Culture; D009936:Organizational Innovation; D036301:Qualitative Research; D012107:Research Design; D012647:Self-Assessment; D012944:Social Support; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D013997:Time Factors