New research from Dr Anne O'Neill has explored the experiences of clinical supervision among Maternal and Child Health (MCH) nurses in Victoria, revealing both benefits and barriers that can hinder its effectiveness.
Published in the Journal of Advanced Nursing, the study highlights the importance of clinical supervision that supports reflective practice as a key form of professional and clinical support for MCH nurses.
“While clinical supervision is widely available to MCH nurses in Victoria, a lack of systematic implementation or formal evaluation may have impacted its potential benefits,” says Dr O’Neill.
The research aimed to better understand how clinical supervision is experienced by MCH nurses, and to identify the factors that support or hinder effective supervision practice.
“We found that MCH nurses predominantly access group supervision facilitated by external supervisors from fields such as social work, psychology and MCH nursing,” says Dr O’Neill.
While most survey respondents felt their supervision was beneficial, many identified barriers that limited its effectiveness. These included inconsistent implementation, poor facilitation, and varied understandings of what clinical supervision is meant to achieve.
The research also pointed to inequities in access, which have important implications for professional support and clinical skill development across the MCH workforce.
Dr O’Neill says the findings are relevant for MCH service providers, professional leaders and education and training institutions.
“Clinical supervision awareness and understanding can be strengthened through professional forums and regular audits of current supervision practices,” she says.
“In addition, students can be better prepared to engage in clinical supervision through theory and experiential learning opportunities.”
The next step is to raise awareness across the sector by supporting the development of a community of practice for MCH nurse clinical supervisors.
