The Role of the Clinical Field Supervisor in Nursing: A Student Perspective

Abstract

Objective: Determine the opinion of students at the School of Nursing of Universidad Autónoma de Chile, about the role of the Clinical Supervisor. Methodology: Qualitative, descriptive, exploratory, interpretive through an intrinsic case study research. Intentional sample, cases by criteria and by convenience, formed by 24 fifth year students, after signing the Informed Consent in 2015. Data collection was through three focus groups and analysis through progressive reduction and descriptive grouping in categories. Guba rigor criteria was used, triangulating by researchers. The ethical aspect was guard by the Universidad de la Frontera’s Ethics Committee. Results: Level 1 analysis emerged 257 units of meaning, grouped into: “Hindering Clinical Supervisor Factors”, “Clinical supervisor characteristics”, “Facilitating Clinical Supervisor Factors” and “Meaning of the Clinical Supervisor”. In Level 2 three thematic nuclei arise, ending with two Level 3 qualitative domains: “Factors associated with the Clinical Supervisor that affect the teaching-learning process” and “Profile and attributes of the Clinical Supervisor”. Conclusions: For students, the teaching and disciplinary training of the person who performs clinical supervision is important, highlighting the interpersonal skills to exercise the role.