Clinical supervision revisited.
OBJECTIVE
The paper is a means to signpost the hazards of clinical supervision (or supervision) as it is currently understood and enacted.


BACKGROUND
The interpretation or understanding given to clinical supervision by professional groups is based on several factors namely origin/history, dynamic changes, relevance in the concept, language used and the meaning attached to this language.


RESULTS
In this paper we take a position that clinical supervision is not a thing or a homogenous entity. We describe it as a 'multi-meaninged' phenomenon defined through the context of its use.


RESULTS
Who uses it and in what circumstances leads to different versions of clinical supervision with different enactments and functions. Practitioners and managers do not necessarily recognize this state of affairs.


CONCLUSIONS
We make some suggestions for more complex versions that may be suitable as the profession develops.
Shanley
Maureen Jubb
MJ
Mental Health Nursing, School of Nursing, Dublin City University, Dublin, Ireland. maureen.jubb@dcu.ie
Stevenson
Chris
C
D001291:Attitude of Health Personnel; D002983:Clinical Competence; D003142:Communication; D007722:Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice; D006301:Health Services Needs and Demand; D006801:Humans; D007400:Interprofessional Relations; D016294:Models, Nursing; D009718:Nurse Administrators / Q000458:organization & administration / Q000523:psychology; D024802:Nurse's Role; D015399:Nursing Research / Q000458:organization & administration; D009740:Nursing Staff / Q000193:education / Q000458:organization & administration / Q000523:psychology; D009745:Nursing, Supervisory / Q000458:organization & administration*; D010687:Philosophy, Nursing; D011573:Psychoanalytic Interpretation; D012660:Semantics; D012944:Social Support; D013192:Staff Development