Communication--a core concept in client supervision by public health nurses.
OBJECTIVE
The aim of this study was to explore public health nurses' reflections on client supervision.


BACKGROUND
Reflection on actions represents a possible basis for constructing and refining assumptions on current theories used in practice thus making knowledge development possible.


METHODS
Transcript-based qualitative content analysis was used to analyse the findings from individual interviews with 13 female public health nurses.


RESULTS
Communication is a core concept of client supervision by public health nurses and includes the following themes: (1) building a trusting relationship, (2) looking beyond the current situation, (3) creating a partnership and equality and (4) considering the challenge involved in trying to act in the clients' best interests.


CONCLUSIONS
This study shows that public health nurses' reflection and reflecting related to their provision of client supervision revealed one possible assumption regarding their theories-in-use; communication is a core concept in client supervision. Communication is viewed from a hermeneutic perspective--as the meaning of the interaction between the public health nurses and the client in the supervision is reflected upon and interpreted.
Tveiten
Sidsel
S
Akershus University College, Faculty of Nursing Education, Lillestrøm, Norway. sisdel.tveiten@hiak.no
Severinsson
Elisabeth
E
D000223:Adaptation, Psychological; D001291:Attitude of Health Personnel; D002983:Clinical Competence; D003142:Communication; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D016294:Models, Nursing; D009664:Norway; D024802:Nurse's Role / Q000523:psychology*; D009723:Nurse-Patient Relations; D015404:Nursing Methodology Research; D009740:Nursing Staff / Q000193:education / Q000458:organization & administration / Q000523:psychology*; D010344:Patient Advocacy; D010358:Patient Participation / Q000379:methods / Q000523:psychology; D011340:Problem Solving; D011637:Public Health Nursing / Q000193:education / Q000458:organization & administration*; D036301:Qualitative Research; D012647:Self-Assessment; D012944:Social Support; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D035502:Trust