SUPERVISION

INTRODUCTION:
most

important management functions

nursing staff -are supervised by the sister in
charge.
assistant nursing superintendent
nursing superintendent.

supervision is overseeing.
The word super means above and
vision means seeing.
directing, investigating, guiding, helping and advising

 A two

way dynamic and social process.

guiding and directing efforts of employees and other
resources to accomplish stated work aspects.(Terry
and Franklin)
a cooperative relationship between a leader and one
or more persons to accomplish a particular purpose.
(Lamberson)

OBJECTIVES OF SUPERVISION:
to

see that a particular work or task is being done in the

expected manner.
delivery of high quality of health care services
development of staff to their highest potential.
To interpret policies, objectives, needs
To develop standards of service and methods
To plan services cooperatively
To assist in problem solving
To evaluate the services

Nursing supervisor - Responsibilities

Assist

in selecting, orienting and training staff

nurses, students.
Help them in communicating with their client
Build good interpersonal relationship
Help in performing different procedures
Assign duties and responsibilities to nurse

Nursing supervisor - Responsibilities

Arrange

for their days off and plan for their

rotation.
Make plans for emergencies in advances.
Appraise the nurses performance, give feedback
and council them.
Develop a spirit of dedication, team work,
cooperation and harmony

In terms of coordination
Effective planning within your units.
fair distribution of work load.
Timely and effective performance of tasks.
Quality, quantity and completeness of performance.
Anticipate difficulties and problems and plan
accordingly

The major supervisory functions in

administrative area
Orientation

of newly posted staff

Assessment of the workload
Arranging materials
Co-ordination of the efforts
Promotion of social contact within work team
Helping individual to cope with their problems

The major supervisory functions in

administrative area
Facilitating

flow of communication
Raising the level of motivation
Establishment of control
Development of confidence
Emphasis on achievement
Record keeping

STEPS IN SUPERVISION
Define

as the job to be done

Selection and organization of supervision activities.
Anticipation of difficulties
Establishment of criteria for evaluation.

STAGES OF SUPERVISON
Stage

one ---preparation for supervision

Stage two---supervision
Stage three---follow up of supervision

Stage one: preparation for supervision

Study

of documents: hospital policy, procedure

Identification of priorities for supervision
Preparation of a supervision schedule

Stage two: supervision:

tools which supervisor use may include
Job

description
Task description
Weekly time table
Check list and rating scale for each task.

Activities
Establish contacts
Review of the objectives, targets and norms with the
subordinates or supervisees
review the job descriptions
examine how much time is at present spent on each of
the duties
Observe the nursing staffs motivation
observe individual nursing staff carry out his/her tasks.

Stage three: follow up of supervision

prepare a report on the observations made
This report is used as a tool for taking follow up actions
which may include:
Organizing in-service training programmes /continuing
education programmes
Reorganization of time table/work plan or duty roster.
Initiating changes in system.
Initiating actions for organizing staff welfare activities.
Counseling and guidance

TYPES OF SUPERVISION
direct

supervision
indirect supervision

TYPES OF SUPERVISION
DIRECT SUPERVISION:
This

is done through face to face talk with the

workers.

considerations essential in direct supervision:

Do not loose temper or abuse
Use democratic approach and avoid autocratic methods
Give worker a chance to reply
Do not talk too much and too fast
Be human in behavior
Do not take it granted that the worker has understand
everything told to him
Do not give instructions in a haphazard way.

INDIRECT SUPERVISION:
with

the help of record and reports and through

written instructions or through some agency
Ensuring - carrying out allotted work in accordance
with the plan of operation
Analyzing the monthly progress reports
Analyzing the job

METHODS OF SUPERVISION:
Technical

Vs Creative supervision
Co-operative Vs Authoritarian supervision
Scientific Vs Intuitive supervision

Technical
Group conferences, group discussions.
Creative supervision
service study, record construction, time study etc

Co-operative
full participation of each member
Authoritarian
responsibility centers entirely on the supervisor

Scientific
relies on objective study and measurement than
personal judgment opinion .
Intuitive
personal judgment opinion

STYLES OF SUPERVISION
Task centered:
When the supervisor emphasizes the task more than
the performer whom she/he supervised.
Employee centered:
Such supervisors are people oriented.

other supervisory styles

An

autocratic - cannot tolerate any deviation from

norms, lack of quality in work, lack of discipline
A Benevolent supervisor - very protective of her
subordinates
A democratic - provides guidance only when
requested by the subordinates

The effectiveness of the style depends on

The job factors include:
The difficulty of the job
The nature of the job
Consistency of the task
Need for creativity or new ideas.
The personal factors include:
The skill, knowledge, expertise, and experience of working
staff.
Their attitudes and willingness

Common techniques and tools of

supervision are:
Observation,

e.g. through field visit, spot-

checking.
Supervisory rounds
Individual and/or group conferences
Check list:

TECHNIQUES USED FOR A

STAFF NURSE & STUDENT NURSE :
Initial

conference: planned conference at regular

intervals
first experience is highly important
Assistance with bed side care
Reassurance
Supervision of nursing procedures
Incidental teaching : planned teaching

TECHNIQUES USED FOR A

STAFF NURSE & STUDENT NURSE :
Answering

and asking questions

Demonstration of desirable performance
Positive suggestions
Making opportunities for observation of unusual
symptoms
Anecdotal records kept by the head nurse

QUALITIES OF A GOOD
SUPERVISOR/SUPERVISION
Thoroughness
Fairness
Initiative
Enthusiasm
Emotional

control
Personal qualification
Teaching ability
General out look

 Skills,

knowledge and attitude required for

supervision
Interpersonal and professional skills:
Each human being has individual attitudes, values and
beliefs.
Attitude:
encouraging and right attitude for making her
supervision effective.

PRINCIPLES OF SUPERVISION
Good supervision
Generates quality of services
coordinated and unifies efforts of the nursing staff.
fosters the ability of each staff member
based on the needs of the individual.
respects the individuality of the staff members.

PRINCIPLES OF SUPERVISION
Good supervision
Supervision of graduate staff nurses differs from that
of students.
to make the ward a good learning situation.
well planned
stimulates staffs to continue self improvement.
to analyse continuously success
helps create a social, psychological and physical
atmosphere

supervisor should consider certain points

Do

not over burden a staff.

Do not exert undue pressure.
Give autonomy to staff
Be professionally and technically competent.
Provide necessary counseling, guidance and training to
staff.
Encourage staff in decision- making.
Communicate with workers freely.
Provide good leadership.

supervisor should consider certain points

Ensure

good planning, organizing and coordination.

Create suitable climate for productive work.
Encourage innovation allowing free flow of ideas.
Share experience specially.
Understand the situation and the problems.
Adopt positive and supportive attitude rather an
attitude for inspection.
Focus on continued and sustained staff growth.

FACTORS OF EFFECTIVE SUPERVISION:

Human

relations skill.
Technical and managerial knowledge.
Leadership position.
Improved upward relations.
Relief from nonsupervisory duties.
General and loose supervision.

PROBLEMS OF SUPERVISION:
Problems

relating to the supervisor himself.

Problems relating to the employees to the
supervised.
Other problems.

Problems relating to the supervisor:

The supervisor may lack of knowledge
lack in leadership qualities.
non co operative
Only autocratic and authoritative
Too rigid
Failure in appreciating the importance of human
relationship
Unwilling to stand and face opposition

Problems relating to the supervisor:

Inability to delegate and make decisions
Emotional instability
Lack of self development
Lacks good judgment
Lack of motivation and interest to do work
Lack of encouragement from surrounding
Not flexible and adaptable
Fails to recognize creative ability in employees

Problems relating to the employees

Non

co operative workers
Rigid attitude of workers
Lack of interest and motivation
Lack of training of the employees

Other problems:
Organizational gap
Lack of facilities and equipment
Unsuitable environment or working place.
Lack of communication facilities.
Overburdened work
When the programme is not well planned.
Lack of administrative support.

ISSUES RELATED TO SUPERVISION

Non

involvement of administration
No specific power has been assigned to administrator.
role ambiguity among administrators.
No written policies and manuals.
No proper job description for various nursing cadres.
Lengthy hours of duty and split duty.
Harassment of nurses by others.
Shortage of qualified teachers in nursing.

Advantages of supervision
Can

be used as a method of measurement in all

nursing.
Assess the work of all those involved.
May be useful tool as a part of quality assurance
programme.
Serves to improve nursing care.

Disadvantages
Is

time consuming.
Requires trained supervisors.