The "Ideal" Clinical Supervision Environment in Nursing and Allied Health

Background: The importance of effective clinical supervision for emerging clinicians is well recognised, not only for practice preparation, but also for reducing future attrition rates. Also recognised are the challenges faced by both students and supervisors during the supervision experience. This study aimed to identify the qualities of the "ideal" clinical supervision environment from the perspective of clinical supervisors from both nursing and allied health.

Design: A qualitative study using an interview method based on action research.

Methods: The convergent interview method was used with 20 clinical supervisors and educators from nursing and allied health across Victoria. Interviews were recorded and data analysis occurred at the end of each pair of interviews to develop deeper questions in line with the method.

Results: 12 major themes emerged as "ideal" qualities with a range of suggestions on how these can be achieved.

Conclusion: The "ideal" qualities can be used in assessing and improving current contexts, as well as designing new clinical supervision processes, models, programs and guidelines or policies. The convergent interview method allowed for deeper level analysis than previous research.