Distance supervision in nursing: a reality desired by nurses

Abstract

Background: Distance supervision strategies facilitate the supervision process since the supervisee has easier access to the supervisor for obtaining support. Objectives: To identify the frequency of implementation of distance supervision strategies, as well as the strategies that nurses would like to see implemented more often in hospital and primary health care settings. Methodology: Descriptive, exploratory and cross-sectional study with a quantitative approach using a sample of 273 nurses. Data were collected through the Questionnaire of Frequency Assessment of Clinical Supervision in Nursing Strategies (Questionário de Avaliação da Frequência de Estratégias de Supervisão Clínica em Enfermagem). Results: Nurses would like distance supervision strategies to be more often implemented. In comparison with hospital nurses, primary health care nurses argue that distance supervision strategies by telephone and email should be more often implemented. Conclusion: The study contributes to improve the knowledge on Clinical Supervision in Nursing, particularly on distance supervision strategies.