Does clinical supervision lead to better patient outcomes in mental health nursing?
BACKGROUND
It is claimed that clinical supervision contributes to clinical governance of healthcare services, but many claims for its positive effects are unsubstantiated.


OBJECTIVE
To test relationships between supervision, quality of nursing care and patient outcomes.


METHODS
A randomised controlled trial was conducted across Queensland, Australia, supplemented by qualitative data collection.


RESULTS
Supervision had sustainable beneficial effects for supervisors and supervisees. The individual performance of clinical supervisors was affected by the culture of the organisation. A positive relationship between supervision, quality of care and patient outcomes could not be established statistically, except in one location.


CONCLUSIONS
Proposals are made for future supervision implementation and further research is required.
White
Edward
E
School of Psychiatry, University of New South Wales, Australia.
Winstanley
Julie
J
D001291:Attitude of Health Personnel; D002983:Clinical Competence; D004509:Education, Nursing, Continuing; D055318:Evidence-Based Nursing; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007588:Job Satisfaction; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009718:Nurse Administrators / Q000193:education* / Q000458:organization & administration* / Q000523:psychology; D015403:Nursing Evaluation Research; D015404:Nursing Methodology Research; D009740:Nursing Staff / Q000458:organization & administration / Q000523:psychology; D009745:Nursing, Supervisory / Q000458:organization & administration*; D017063:Outcome Assessment, Health Care; D011568:Psychiatric Nursing / Q000458:organization & administration*; D036301:Qualitative Research; D011787:Quality of Health Care; D011793:Queensland; D013192:Staff Development