A model of clinical supervision for nurses undertaking short placements in mental health care settings

This paper presents a model of supervision developed from the experience of supervising undergraduate general nursing students undertaking clinical experience in psychiatric wards. Supervision structures and methods are presented and the theoretical underpinnings of the supervision model are discussed. Our experience of using the model over the past 5 years suggests that it has the potential to allow students to gain a good understanding of individual patients within a short time span and to engage with them as active collaborators- in care. The supervision model can also assist students to develop the knowledge and insights needed to gain the respect of senior colleagues, and the confidence to challenge the professional conservatism that often characterizes psychiatric wards.