BACKGROUND: It is claimed that clinical supervision contributes to clinical governance of healthcare services, but many claims for its positive effects are unsubstantiated. AIM: To test relationships between supervision, quality of nursing care and patient outcomes. METHOD: 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. DISCUSSION AND CONCLUSION: Proposals are made for future supervision implementation and further research is required.
RCT Entities:
BACKGROUND: It is claimed that clinical supervision contributes to clinical governance of healthcare services, but many claims for its positive effects are unsubstantiated. AIM: To test relationships between supervision, quality of nursing care and patient outcomes. METHOD: 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. DISCUSSION AND CONCLUSION: Proposals are made for future supervision implementation and further research is required.