Factors which influence the effectiveness of clinical supervision for student nurses in Sri Lanka: A qualitative research study

Background: Clinical placements are an essential part of student nurse education, but their effectiveness is influenced by the type and availability of supervision and existing resources. In Sri Lanka, the specific sociopolitical context in which nursing, and nurse education, operate may also be important. Objectives: To examine the impact of socio-political factors on Sri Lankan nurses' supervisory practices and student nurses' experiences of clinical supervision. Design: Qualitative descriptive. Settings: Four teaching hospitals and four educational establishments in Colombo district, Sri Lanka. Participants: 217 student nurses in years 2-4 of their programmes. 205 qualified nurses (clinical and academic) with a minimum of two years' supervisory experience. Methods: Written responses to three open questions, followed by reflexive thematic analysis with inductive, semantic coding. Results: Two themes were identified: 1. Personal and professional development 2. Tensions and conflicts. Sociocultural norms and governance structures, which limited nurses' professional recognition and self-determination, negatively affected clinical supervision. Conclusions: The sociocultural changes necessary to raise the professional status of Sri Lankan nurses will take time to occur. Approval of a mentorship education programme for supervisors, recognition of their role and greater support for students are important first steps in this process.