Group supervision for nursing students during their clinical placements: its content and meaning

Aim To explore what situations students focus on during group supervision sessions, and what this supervision meant to nursing students during their clinical placements. Background Knowledge about clinical supervision of nursing students in groups is scarce concerning what situations the students bring to the sessions. Method Open-ended questionnaires were filled out by students after each session. Qualitative content analysis was performed. Results The content evolved as: being a nursing student, encountering demanding situations and becoming a nurse. The meaning of group supervision was captured in the categories: 'satisfaction of being together in the supervision group', 'new understanding and insights' and 'hesitation and discomfort'. A change of pattern was found over time showing a development among the students from a self-centred focus to a profession-centred focus. Conclusion The value of group supervision as a tool to support nursing students' personal and professional development was emphasized. The students' great need for and lack of support in 'bed-side nursing' was obvious. Implications for nursing management Our findings would be valuable for nurse managers when striving for a good learning environment in clinical placements, as well as for nursing teachers, in their supportive role to both students and preceptors.