SUPERVISION

The word supervision is derived from two words super = above and video – I
see meaning superior power of perceiving.

Supervision is generally termed as an educational process in which person

with better training / more experience takes the responsibility of training a
person with less training (or) less experience.

Definition

Supervision is working together to achieve the organizational goals.

To some it means inspection and checking of workers performance by

some one who looks only for those things that are being done wrong.

In this conception the emphasis is on the productivity. For this

supervisor plans all the work, makes all decisions and issues commands
to the workers who are to obey him with out questioning.

In this concept the emphasis is to help the individual to do his job well.

Supervision is planning, directing guiding, teaching, observing,

encouraging, correcting, commanding, suggesting, demonstrating,
questioning, reporting, recognizing, critising and evaluating every
worker patiently, tactfully, fairly and continuously so that each worker
can do the job skillfully, safely intelligently, correctly and completely
according to his capabilities with in the limitations of his job.

Objectives of supervision

• Helps subordinates do their job skillfully & efficiently.

• Develops subordinates to the fullest extent

• Promotes effectiveness of subordinates

• Motivates subordinates in their career, develop & maintain high morale.

• Promotes team work Bridges gap between the workers personal goal &
the organizational goal

Purpose of supervision:

• To improve the quality of work / performance.

• Helping the person doing the work and develop the highest possible
standard.

Principles of supervision:

 Supervision should aim at growth in knowledge and improvement of

skill of the person. .

 Supervision has to be well planned. The plan should be based on the

needs of individual and objective.

 Supervision should improve the ability in thinking and adjusting to the

new situation.

 It should helps to formulate objects.

 Good supervision stimulates their interest and effectors.

 The individual should be encouraged to put forth his best efforts in

order to get appreciation from the supervision and also meet the
challenge for her professional growth.

 Supervision should helps the individual to draw a pattern for analysis of

success – to see whether she is reaching her objectives (or) not.

 Supervision should care the personality of individual nurse. It

encourages initiative, self reliance and helps to preserve both.

 Supervision encourages the individual to strive hard to develop in

effectiveness and becoming self reliant in setting up objectives and
goals.

 Supervision should not overburden any individual / grants.

 Supervision is a process of co-operation and co-ordination.

 Supervision should create suitable climate for productive

work.Supervision should give autonomy to workers depending upon
personalities, exercise capabilities, knowledge, competence, experience
and characteristics

 Supervision should encourage innovation allowing free flow of ideas

and share positive experiences of personnel.

 Supervision should ensure staff development i.e. it should focus on

continued and sustained staff G & D.

 Supervision should be teaching, learning process. In which it should

help workers to improve, develop and reinforce knowledge and skill are
to their individual learning needs.

 Supervision should encourage deserved staff and decision making.

Supervision should provide good leadership

Qualities of a good supervisor:

• Trained person

• Understand the training background and ability of the supervised.

• Good knowledge, the local practice

• Good in health, skills in T.G & PR/t have pleasing manner.

• Good listener.

• Supervisor should have leads examplenory life

• Creative enthusiasm

• Just impartial human, tolerant and tactful

• Helpful

• Good power of judgment.

• Supervision consist of

Leadership

Motivation

Communication

Evaluation

Functions of supervision:

Administrative:

• Assignment of the work loads of individual and groups according to the

level of physical and mental competence (or) preparing the duty
roaster.

• Identify the needs for supplies and equipment and providing materials
and supplies to facilitate the staff performance.

• Identify the problem and helps to solve.

Educative:

• Orientation

• Teaching subordinates

• Plan and conduct in service education program

• Ensuring staff developments

Communicative

• The sup act as a communicator between the staff and authorities and
other health team members.

• She facilitates communication

• Sup should encourage free communication among persons between
worker and community representatives and members of health team.

Evaluative:

• Supervisor is supposed to carryout performance appraisal of all the staff

this include identify the cause of difficulty.

• Providing C E and guidance.

Other functions are:

• Co-ordinates there of subordinates and agents and promote team

worker.

• Promote social contact with in the team to bring staff together and
increases group cohesiveness.

• Develops mutual confidence

• Raises level of motivation

• Develops good IPR

• Maintains R & R

• Establish control over the subordinates

As a manager supervisor has to perform the following functions

Planning the work

Issuing orders

Providing guidance & leadership

Motivation

Preserving records

Controlling output – performance of the worker


Liaison between management & workers

Grievance handling

Industrial safety

Types of supervision:

(1) Direct supervision

– face to face talk with worker

 Points to be considered:

- Do not loose temper

- Use democratic approach and avoid autographic

- Give workers chance to reply

- Do not talk too much and too fast

- be human in behaviour

- Do not give instructions – haphazard way.

(2) Indirect supervision:

With the help of record and reports of the worker and through written
instructions.

This includes:

- Ensuring – carrying out allotted work

- Analysis of monthly progress – input efforts and achievement

- Analyzing amount of work allotted

- Support and guidance.

 Classification

Supervision also classified - acc. To behavior of supervisor

I. Automatic / authorization

II. Laissed / free rein supervision.

III. Democratic sup.

IV. Bureaucratic sup.

V. Benevolent

VI. protective

Methods of supervision:

Technical – these are basic supervisory skills and which need to be

trained – group discussion and conference

For example: techniques of service study, record construction, time study

etc.

*Creative – provides maximum adaptation to the situ

Ex. Instead of orientation period of two week for each new staff member,
a variable plan in both contents and time according to the needs of each
individual should formulated.

II. *Cooperative – full participation of each member of the group in

planning, action and decision.

*Authorization: supervision responsibility centers entirely on the

supervisor, with the staff following his / her orders.

Both are needed all to situation.

• Scientific supervision – relies on objective study and measurement

than personal judgment / opinion.
 *Intitutive supervision : it needs to

maintain IPR

IV. *Task oriented supervision emphasize

the task more than performer.

* Employee oriented: Supervisors are more concerned about worker

staff their needs and welfare than assigned tasks.

Tools for supervision

 Checklist

 Rating scales

 Nurses reports

 Nursing rounds

 Job descriptions

 Personnel policies

 Staff educations

 Problem solving approach

Techniques of supervision

A technique is a way of doing something. Techniques vary with the

personality and ability of the individuals who are being supervised, the
activities that are being performed under supervision and the
immediate circumstances.

Any technique used for supervision must be based on sound democratic

psychological principles which takes account the nurse’s individuality

Supervision of student nurse:

- Conferences: Initial, individual and group

- Control of early experiences

- Anecdotal records

- Assistance with bed site care

- Reassurance

- Making opportunities for observation of unusual symptoms

- Incidental teaching

(a)As a method of teaching

(b) A&Q

(c) Demonstration of desirable performance

(d) Positive suggestion

(e)Meaning an opportunity for observation of unusual symptoms.

The process of supervision:

Stage one: preparation for supervision

1. A supervisor should focus on specific issue.

- Efficacy of service provided to the

- Relevant problems

- Efficacy problem utilization management of limited resources.

2. Study of document

3. Identification of priorities

4. Preparation of a supervision schedule

 Stage two: supervision

Use tools : - job description

- Task description

- Weekly time table

- Check list / rating for each work

• As a supervisor the following duties has to be performed.

• Establish contact

• Review the objectives, targets and norms

• Review job descriptions

• Note actual / potential conflict

• Observe the actual performance.

• Observe the individual nursing staff carries out his/her tasks.

Identify the gaps & needs for follow up action based on feed back data
attained through the observation

Stage three: Follow up of supervision

Unless actions to follow-up the gaps and needs identified during stage
are taken, supervision remains incomplete. Each supervisor must
prepare a report on the observations made during supervision. The
follow-up action may include:

• Organizing in-service training programmes/continuing education

programmes for the nursing personnel.

• Reorganization of time table / work plan/ duty roaster.

• Initiating changes in logistic support or supply system.

• Initiating actions for organizing staff welfare activities.

• Counseling and guidance regarding career development and
professional growth.

The effectiveness of supervision depend on :

1.Knowledge of work:

 A supervisor to be effective must have the knowledge of machines, tools,

processes & materials that are under his charge

 Skill in leading

 Skills in instructing

 Skills in dealing with current problems

2. Human orientation

2. Administration – what agency expects of supervision & supervisor.

3. The facilities provided.

4. The limitations imposed by the agency

5. The methods of supervision employed

6. Supervisor own preparation, personality & interest