Systematic clinical supervision and its effects for nurses handling demanding care situations. Interviews with Swedish district nurses and hospital nurses in cancer care.

This study reports the findings of how district nurses (n = 23) and hospital nurses (n = 9) in cancer care experienced social support in immediate connection with demanding care situations, as well as the effect of systematic clinical supervision. The study is based on their own accounts. The data were collected by means of semi-structured interviews. The findings indicate that there is a great need to unburden oneself of job-related thoughts and feelings, and to receive support after having been in emotionally demanding care situations. The nurses were of the opinion that the supervision had provided relief, confirmation, and professional development. These findings can be understood in the light of Antonovsky's theory, "sense of coherence," which comprises the components: comprehensibility, manageability, and meaningfulness. More research is needed to discover further ways to support the personnel.