Clinical group supervision in an intensive care unit: a space for relief, and for sharing emotions and experiences of care

How Do Health Professionals Maintain Compassion Over Time? Insights From a Study of Compassion in Health

Although compassion in healthcare differs in important ways from compassion in everyday life, it provides a key, applied microcosm in which the science of compassion can be applied. Compassion is among the most important virtues in medicine, expected from medical professionals and anticipated by patients. Yet, despite evidence of its centrality to effective clinical care, research has focused on compassion fatigue or barriers to compassion and neglected to study the fact that most healthcare professionals maintain compassion for their patients. In contributing to this understudied area, the present report provides an exploratory investigation into how healthcare professionals report trying to maintain compassion. In the study, 151 professionals were asked questions about how they maintained compassion for their patients. Text responses were coded, with a complex mixture of internal vs. external, self vs. patient, and immediate vs. general strategies being reported. Exploratory analyses revealed reliable individual differences in the tendency to report strategies of particular types but no consistent age-related differences between older and younger practitioners emerged. Overall, these data suggest that while a range of compassion-maintaining strategies were reported, strategies were typically concentrated in particular areas and most professionals seek to maintain care using internal strategies. A preliminary typology of compassion maintaining strategies is proposed, study limitations and future directions are discussed, and implications for the study of how compassion is maintained are considered.

Critical care nurses' experiences of nursing mothers in an ICU after complicated childbirth

BACKGROUND

Providing nursing care for a critically ill obstetric patient or a patient who has just become a mother after a complicated birth can be a challenging experience for critical care nurses (CCNs). These patients have special needs because of the significant alterations in their physiology and anatomy together with the need to consider such specifics as breastfeeding and mother-child bonding.

AIM

The aim with this study was to describe CCNs' experience of nursing the new mother and her family after a complicated childbirth.

METHOD

The design of the study was qualitative. Data collection was carried out through focus group discussions with 13 CCNs in three focus groups during spring 2012. The data were subjected to qualitative content analysis.

FINDINGS

The analysis resulted in the formulation of four categories: the mother and her vital functions are prioritized; not being responsible for the child and the father; an environment unsuited to the new family and collaboration with staff in neonatal and maternity delivery wards.

CONCLUSION AND RELEVANCE TO CLINICAL PRACTICE

When nursing a mother after a complicated birth the CCNs give her and her vital signs high priority. The fathers of the children or partners of the mothers are expected to take on the responsibility of caring for the newborn child and of being the link with the neonatal ward. It is suggested that education about the needs of new families for nursing care would improve the situation and have clinical implications. Whether the intensive care unit is always the best place in which to provide care for mothers and new families is debatable.

Supervisor experiences of supervising nursing staff in the care of older people

AIM

To describe supervisors' experiences of supervising nursing staff who care for older people in order to develop an understanding of the opportunities and limitations involved in supervision.

BACKGROUND

Little is known of what group supervision of nursing staff means for the supervisor, particularly in regards to care of the old.

METHODS

A reflective life-world research approach, based upon phenomenological epistemonology was used. Two supervisors with 2 years experience of supervising nursing staff caring for older people were interviewed.

CONCLUSIONS

Results point to the need for support for supervisors in order to enable them to develop their supervisory abilities and skills.

IMPLICATIONS FOR NURSING MANAGEMENT

Support is of crucial importance for both the ability to supervise and the quality of supervision.

Changes in emotion work at interdisciplinary conferences following clinical supervision in a palliative outpatient ward

In this article, I describe changes in emotion work at weekly interdisciplinary conferences in a palliative( 1) outpatient ward following clinical supervision (CS). I conceive emotions as constantly negotiated in interaction, and I researched the similarity between how this is done during CS and at interdisciplinary conferences following CS. In this respect, CS is seen as a particular discursive practice for emotion work. The findings show how conferences following supervision become inspired by the "language game" in CS, initiating metaperspectives on the care and treatment of patients. These metaperspectives illuminate a dual aspect of care in the sense that it serves the needs not only of patients but also team members. I argue that this recognition captures one of the great challenges in palliative care, namely, to separate the carer's own needs and emotions from those of patients. I therefore conclude that CS enhances professional development and may prevent burnout in palliative care.

Competence in intensive and critical care nursing: a literature review

This literature review defines and describes the concept of competence in adult intensive care nursing, with special reference to clinical and professional competence. The aim was to see whether and how the studies reviewed defined or described the concept of competence, and which domains of competence have been investigated in intensive and critical care nursing research. The review focuses on empirical studies retrieved from the COCHRANE and MEDLINE (1994-2005) databases. The final analysis comprised 45 studies. The studies were analysed by inductive content analysis. Very few (n=7) of the studies offered any definitions or descriptions of the concept of competence. Clinical and professional competence in intensive and critical care nursing can be defined as a specific knowledge base, skill base, attitude and value base and experience base of intensive and critical care nursing. Clinical competence can be divided into three and professional competence into four constituent domains. In clinical competence, these are the principles of nursing care; clinical guidelines; and nursing interventions. In professional competence, the domains are ethical activity; decision-making; development work; and collaboration. More empirical research is needed to examine competence in intensive and critical care nursing.

Compassion fatigue and secondary traumatization: provider self care on intensive care units for children

INTRODUCTION

Unexpressed grief in health care providers who care for chronically ill children may lead to the development of some symptoms of compassion fatigue. The purpose of this study was to describe the scope of compassion fatigue in health care providers working on critical care units with children. A secondary aim was to evaluate the effectiveness of providing educational seminars on compassion fatigue to health care providers working on critical care units with children.

METHOD

In this quantitative study, 185 providers employed within a Children's Hospital attended an educational seminar and voluntarily completed the questionnaires before and after the seminar. A modified version of the Social Readjustment Rating Scale, Index of Clinical Stress, and a compassion fatigue measure developed by the researchers were used in this study.

RESULTS

The researchers found that this educational seminar was successful in raising awareness on compassion fatigue and reducing clinical stress. In addition, the results suggested that providers who experienced higher levels of personal stressors also experienced higher levels of clinical stress and compassion fatigue.

DISCUSSION

Providers working on the intensive care units for children needed to be aware of compassion fatigue symptoms and techniques to manage or minimize their symptoms. Taking care of the providers on a personal and professional level had a significant impact on the amount of stress and compassion fatigue exhibited by health care professionals.

Group-format clinical supervision for hospice nurses

This paper discusses the aspects of a small research study, which used mixed research methods. The study concerned group-format supervision as a means of helping five hospice nurses, four women and one man, discuss their work experiences. An aim of the study was to understand something of the professional work of hospice nurses and how they might best be supported. Ethical considerations and some benefits derived by group members from clinical supervision are summarized in the context. The research method entailed 12 sessions of group-format clinical supervision. The discussion explores the forming, management and dynamics of a small clinical supervision group. Hospice work is emotionally demanding of nurses. Nurses throughout this small study thought over issues concerning serious illness, death and bereavement, as well as working together as a supervision group. Group-format supervision is potentially helpful to nurses examining professional practice. However, group work can be as challenging to participants as it is helpful. The discussion concludes with an appraisal of the potential gains for nurses from clinical supervision in group-format. This paper proposes that supervision groups could help hospice nurses to identify and explore issues related to professional practice. Adequate preparation of nurses, organizational support and the competency of group facilitators should be considered critical to safe and effective management of professional groups.

Close relatives in intensive care from the perspective of critical care nurses

AIM

The aim was to describe critical care nurses' experiences of close relatives within intensive care.

BACKGROUND

There is a lack of research describing critical care nurses' experiences of the significance of close relatives in intensive care. Knowledge in this area will support critical care nurses to develop good nursing care for the critically ill person and their close relatives.

DESIGN AND METHOD

The design of the study was qualitative. Data collection was carried out through focus group discussions with 24 critical care nurses in four focus groups during spring 2004. The data were subjected to qualitative thematic content analysis.

RESULTS

The focus groups discussions showed that the presence of close relatives was taken for granted by critical care nurses and it was frustrating if the critically ill person did not have any. Information from close relatives made it possible for critical care nurses to create individual care for the critically ill person. They supported close relatives by giving them information, being near and trying to establish good relations with them. Close relatives were important. Critical care nurses lacked forums for reflection and discussion about the care given.

RELEVANCE TO CLINICAL PRACTICE

This study indicates that close relatives are a prerequisite for critical care nurses to give good nursing care to meet the needs of the critically ill person. A communication based on mutual understanding is necessary if critical care nurses are to be able to support close relatives. Dealing constantly with situations that were ethically difficult without any chance to reflect was an obstacle for critical care nurses to improve their work with close relatives.

Lamentation and loss: expressions of caring by contemporary surgical nurses

AIM

This paper is a report of a phenomenological study of caring from the perspective of nurses working on surgical wards.

BACKGROUND

While care and caring are complex foundational nursing concepts which have received considerable and ongoing attention from theorists, researchers and clinicians, there has been little research into caring on surgical units.

METHOD

A convenience sample of ten nurses working on surgical units in a public teaching hospital in Canada was interviewed using van Manen's phenomenological approach. Data were collected during 2001 using semi-structured interviews.

FINDINGS

The major theme of lamentation and loss was identified from the data. Participants revealed a dichotomous tension between what caring should be and what actually occurs. This tension was pervasive and generated lament - an expression of grief and mourning for the loss of caring. The essential structures supporting this theme included lack of time, lack of caring support, tasking, increased acuity, lack of continuity of care, emotional divestment and not caring for each other. Loss and sadness were articulated and participants lamented and grieved about the loss of care in contemporary practice.

CONCLUSION

The forces and influences described by participants undermined caring in the new practice milieu. If this is a glimpse of the future, then the values of the nursing profession may be under siege. Caring as the central core, the essence or unifying concept of nursing may be subject to marginalization in contemporary practice.

Factors influencing nurse supervisor competence: a critical incident analysis study

AIM

The aim of the study was to identify factors related to critical incidents that influence the competence of nurse supervisors.

BACKGROUND

Nurse supervisors require considerable competence in order to help supervisees to reflect on their clinical work and to interpret the needs of the patient.

METHOD

A qualitative approach involving the critical incident technique was used. Critical incidents were collected by means of self-reports from 25 nurse supervisors.

FINDINGS

Two main areas emerged: a professional and a personal stance. The professional stance described the nurse supervisors' awareness of the importance of creating a secure learning environment and facilitating reflection. The supervisors structured the material and created awareness of fundamental nursing values. The second main area, personal stance, described the nurse supervisors' behaviour when they gave the participating nurses the opportunity to work through the experiences gained in the daily provision of nursing care. Although they experienced lack of self-assurance during the supervision session, they also expressed security regarding their own performance as nurse supervisors.

CONCLUSIONS

Nurse supervisors need to include more nursing theory and focus on the nursing process as well as being aware of their own shortcomings and resources. One way for the supervisor to scrutinize his/her actions is to discuss and examine them with a more experienced nurse supervisor colleague.

An action-research study exploring midwives’ support needs and the affect of group clinical supervision

OBJECTIVE

To explore community midwives' views and experiences of their support needs in clinical practice, and then to identify how they would wish to receive such support. Further objectives were to redress the imbalance identified by planning and facilitating a model of clinical supervision devised by the participating midwives.

DESIGN

A qualitative study using an action-research approach based on collaboration and participation. Action research has the potential to facilitate understanding of, and is able to adapt to, changing situations within clinical practice. Data were collected in three phases using in-depth interviews and focus groups.

SETTING

A large maternity unit in the north of England, UK.

PARTICIPANTS

Eight National Health Service (NHS) community midwives working in the same team.

FINDINGS

Recent and ongoing organisational change and increased demands placed on the midwives by their managers were found to be detrimental to the process of clinical supervision and working relationships with their peers and clients. These pressures also inhibited the process of change. The midwives' behaviour and coping strategies revealed an apparent lack of understanding on their part, and that of their midwifery managers, of the regulation of emotion and the amount of energy this generated. Pseudo-cohesion and resistance to change were key defence mechanisms used by the participating midwives.

KEY CONCLUSIONS

A large amount of published literature supported the existence of stress and burnout in midwifery, but no research addressed ways of alleviating this situation. Effective facilitation of midwifery support is needed, which can be met through support mechanisms such as clinical supervision. During the process of clinical supervision, strong messages emerged about the necessity to ensure that midwives are prepared educationally for the difficult situations that are brought about through collaborative working. There are also messages about the cultural legacy of NHS midwifery and how this can inhibit autonomous behaviour by midwives.

IMPLICATIONS FOR PRACTICE

Developing and increasing self-awareness is still not viewed as being intrinsic to the work of the midwife, and midwives are being asked to undertake a level of work for which they have not been adequately prepared. The bureaucratic pressures of working in a large maternity unit exaggerate this further. In this situation, the system is seen as more important than the midwives.

Nursing home care: changes after supervision

BACKGROUND

An intervention project was conducted in three nursing home wards in Sweden. Most patients had severe dementia. The intervention consisted of supervision for individualized and documented nursing care, based on multidimensional assessment.

AIM

To illuminate changes in carers' approach after the intervention.

METHODS

Several data collections were conducted across the intervention and consisted of nursing documentation, patient life stories as told by carers, video recorded interactions, stimulated recall interviews and a questionnaire. Both quantitative and qualitative methods were used in the analyses.

FINDINGS

The findings from the different methods mirrored each other and added to the credibility of the intervention. Communicated knowledge about patients improved in nursing documentation and also as told by carers. Carers were differently skilled in managing the complexity of nursing care situations before as well as after the intervention, but the intervention contributed to developing carers in 'confirming nursing care'. They also improved in their ability to verbalize reflections about their everyday life with patients with dementia.

CONCLUSION

Supervision made it possible for carers to share their lived experiences about their day-to-day life with patients, which could promote personal and professional development and thus improve care quality. It also appeared that a detailed assessment tool used as part of the nursing process contributed to seeing a patient as a real person behind a dementia surface.

Some benefits experienced by hospice nurses from group clinical supervision

A small clinical supervision group consisting of five hospice nurses met together in their workplace 1 h weekly for 12 weeks. Issues concerning professional practice were examined with the help of a researcher (A.J.) who acted as facilitator. At the end of the group's life A.J. asked all nurses to complete a questionnaire related to the workplace and 12 identified helpful factors. Two weeks later the hospice nurses were interviewed in group format and asked to consider the reasons for their choice of answers. The data revealed that collectively--interpersonal learning (output), identification, catharsis, family re-enactment, group cohesiveness and self-understanding were experienced by the hospice nurses as the most helpful factors to the group. Existential factors, guidance, universality, interpersonal learning (input), instillation of hope and altruism were identified as less important. Variations in individual responses showed different ways in which a group might meet the needs of its members. The study concludes with the suggestion that work discussion groups can offer nurses the means to calm, regulate and plan their interactions with themselves and others. Clinical supervision is an effective format for exploring issues concerning professional practice, allowing nurses to: learn from each other, offer support, recognize how others see and esteem them as fellow workers, and moderate concerns and anxiety related to their work. Group work is likely to raise anxiety in all participants, however, and preparation and support are required for the group facilitator. Carefully chosen membership is also considered important to the safety of members and successes of the group.