The Clinical Supervisor in Nursing: Characteristics and Skills Valued by Peers in an Emergency Department

Abstract

Background Clinical supervision is considered fundamental in the development of the profession, in the continuous improvement of care, and in the pursuit of excellence in care. The role of the clinical supervisor among peers is essential to ensure the quality of care; Objectives To identify the characteristics and competencies of the clinical supervisor in nursing that are most valued by peers in the context of a emergency service; Methods Mixed-method exploratory, descriptive, and cross-sectional study. Sample comprised 75 nurses from the Emergency Department of a Hospital in the Northern Region of Portugal; Results Most participants highlighted the importance of several competencies of the Clinical Supervisor in Nursing. Responsibility was valued by 80% of the participants, followed by integrity (70.7%), motivation (60%) and conflict management (56%). In addition, 58.7% consider the ability to evaluate and communicate essential, while 52% point out the importance of the stimulus and 49.3% emphasize the decision-making capacity and development of others. Other equally valued skills include problem-solving (48%), creativity (44%), self-knowledge (45.3%), solicitude (57.3%), initiative, tolerance and self-confidence (46.7%). The participants also highlighted leadership, empathy, professional updating and interpersonal skills as essential characteristics of the Clinical Supervisor. Conclusions The most valued characteristics and skills include responsibility, integrity, motivation, assessment and communication skills. The development of training and qualification programs aimed at improving the technical, scientific and behavioral skills of supervisors, contributing to a more collaborative, productive and effective work environment.