Implementing clinical supervision for ICU Outreach Nurses: a case study of their journey.

INTRODUCTION: Many health services with Intensive Care Units have developed ward liaison programs, managed by Outreach Nurses, to facilitate the transition for patients between the intensive care and general wards. This paper reports a case study of clinical supervision for two Outreach Nurses as they adapted to their new, largely autonomous role in an Australian tertiary hospital.

METHOD: Individual clinical supervision was provided fortnightly to two Outreach Nurses over 12 months by an experienced facilitator, and evaluated using a case study methodology. The Outreach Nurses completed a journal that captured their personal and professional growth and the supervisor also provided a reflective account. An interview was conducted with both Outreach Nurses to evaluate their experiences of clinical supervision.

FINDINGS: Key themes emerging from all the data sources included: respect for clinical supervision and the supervisor; role clarification; understanding and dealing with interpersonal issues; dedicated time for reflection; facing up to issues and letting them go.

CONCLUSION: The Outreach Nurses described the personal and professional benefits of clinical supervision and highlighted how it was successfully implemented for them in a busy clinical environment with limited available resources.