SUPERVISION

Introduction:-
supervision is defined as an art or process by which designated individual or group of the individuals
oversee the work of others and establish controls to improve the work as well as the workers.
Supervision is generally termed as educational process in which a person with better training or more
experience takes theresponsibility of training. a person with less training or less experience and in
this educational process the leadership of the supervisor and the growth of the supervised combine to
achieve and maintain progressively the highest level of performance of which the worker is capable.

Supervision is observation and providing feedback to ensure the quality of the program and to enable
the staff to perform to their maximum potential.

Meaning:-
The term “supervision” has its origin in two Latin words: super meaning “above”; video, meaning “I
see”. In a hierarchical organization no one can claim to work without proper supervision. For proper
functioning of an organization, it is very essential that there should be proper coordination and link
among different parts and organs of an organization.

Definition:-
Supervision has been defined as a cooperative relationship between the leader and one or more
person to accomplish a particular job. Supervision is defined as a two way dynamic and social
process undertaken for a specific purpose of fulfillment of organizational goals by striving to
maintain the required quality of performance through constantly supporting and assisting the worker
to perform the best.

According to Jean Barret- supervision is kind of teaching which involves advising , helping ,
inspiring , leading and liberating. Supervision has been defined as a cooperative relationship
between the leader and one or more person to accomplish a particular job.

Terry and Franklin supervision as “guiding and directing efforts of the employees and other
resources to accomplish stated work outputs”.

According to Margaret Williamson – Supervision is process by which workers are helped by

designated staff member to learn according to the needs to make the best use of their knowledge and
skills and to improve their abilities so that they do their job more effectively and increase satisfaction
to themselves and to the agency.

John D. Millett rightlyobserved –Supervision is more than a process, it is a spirit which animates
relationship between levels of organization and which includes maximum accomplishment , or when
unsuccessful generates administrative paralysis. Effective management is concerned to realize the
first and to avoid the second.

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Goals Of Supervision:-
To bring personal and professional growth of employees (nurses) in order to achieve quality in health
care system.

 It is the key to maintain standards.

 To persist in the delivery of high quality of health care services.
 To assist and to help in the development of staff to their highest potential.
 To interpret policies , objectives & need etc. of the organization.
 To plan services cooperatively and to develop coordination to avoid overlapping .
 To assist in the problem solving of the matters concerning personal , administrative
and operation of services.
 To develop standards of service and methods of evaluation of a personnel and services.
 To evaluate the services given , personal performance , progress made and to suggest
changes for improving the work effectively and outcome of the personnel.

Principles Of Supervision
 Supervision should meet the individual needs.
 Supervisor should always think herself as a leader so as to give guidance help and
encouragement .
 Supervision should be democratic.
 Supervision should be well planned and adopted to good planning . It calls for good
planning and organizatiogn .
 Good supervision respects the personality of an individual (employee).
 Supervision should aim at growth in knowledge and improvement of skill of the
person.
 Supervision should improve the ability in thinking and adjusting to the new situation.
It should help to formulate of objects.
 Supervision should have competence.
 Supervision should have receive training.
 Supervision should encourage innovation allowing free flow of ideas and share
positive experience of personal.

Function:-
John Dawson (1926) who stated the functions of supervision in the following terms:

Administrative – the promotion and maintenance of good standards of work, co-ordination of

practice with policies of administration, the assurance of an efficient and smooth-running
office.

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 Educational – the educational development of each individual worker on the staff in a manner
calculated to evoke her fully to realize her possibilities of usefulness.

Supportive – the maintenance of harmonious working relationships, the cultivation of esprit de

corps. [This is Kadushin’s (1992) rendering of Dawson 1926: 293].

Communicative: the supervision act as a communicator between the authorities and staff and
other health team members-

 She facilitates communication

 She should encourage free communication persons between worker and community
representativeness and members of health team

Evaluative

 Supervisor is supposed to carryout to performance appraisal of all the staff this include
identifry the cause of difficulty
 Providing guidance
 Other functions are:
 Coordinates there of sub ordinates and agents and promote team worker
 Promote social contact
 Within the team to bring staff together and increases group cohesiveness
 Developes mutual confidence
 Raises level of motivation
 Developes good IPR
 Maintain good rapport
 Establish control over the subordinates
 Problems of supervision

Methods Of Supervision:-
 Technical Verses Creative supervision

 Cooperative Verses Authoritarian

 Scientific Verses Institutive

 Task Oriented Verses Employee Oriented

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 Technical:-these are basic supervisory skills and which need to be trained- group discussion and
conference

for example technique of service study,record construction, time study etc.

creative; provides maximum adaptation to the situation

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.

 Cooperative:full participation of each member of the group in planning action and decision

Authoritative:supervision -responsibility center entirely on the supervisor,with the staff

following his/ her orders

 Scientific Supervision: relies on objectives study and measurement than personal judgement
/opinion.

Institutive Supervision:its needs to maintain IPR

 Task oriented supervision:emphasize the task more than performer

Employee oriented:supervisors are more concerned about worker staff their needs and welfare
than assigned task

Tools For Supervision:

 Checklist

 Rating scale

 Nurses reports

 Nursing rounds

 Job descriptions

 Personnel policies

 Staff educations

 Problem solving approach

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Techniques Of Supervision:-
Techniques are based on three stages

 Stage One - Preparation For Supervision

 Stage Two - Supervision
 Stage Three - Follow Up Of Supervision

Stage One:Preparation Of Supervision Schedule

 A supervisor should focus on specific issues.

 Identification of priority for supervision
 Study of documents
 Preparation of a supervision schedule

Stage Two : Supervision

 As a supervisor the following duties has to be performed

 Establishing Contacts
 Review of the objectives , targets and norms
 Review the job description
 Observe the nursing staff’s motivation
 Observe for any actual or potential conflicts.
 Observe the actual performance.
 Observe the individual nursing staff carries out his/her tasks.

Stage Three : Follow Up Of Supervision

 Reorganization of time –table/workplan/duty roster

 Organizing in-service training programmes /continuing education programmes for nursing
personnel
 Initiating changes in logistic support or supply system
 Initiating actions for organizing staff welfare activities
 Counseling and guidance regarding career development and professional growth.

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Factors Of Effective Supervision:-
A. Human relations skill
B. Technical and managerial knowledge
C. Leadership position
D. Improve upward relations
E. Relief from non-supervisory duties
F. General and lose supervision

Supervisor:-
A supervisor is a person who is primarily in change of a section & is responsible for both quality
&quantity of production, for the efficient performance of the equipment, & for the employees in
his charge & their efficiency, training & morale.

He issues instructions to the worker, direct their activities and reports to the department head on
the performance of his section.

Qualities Of A Good Supervisor:

• trained person
• good knowledge and local practice
• good in health , skills in T.G. and PR/T have pleasing manner
• good listener
• good power of judgement
• helpful
• Thoroughness
• Fairness
• Initiative
• Tact
• Enthusiasm
• Emotional control
• General outlook
• Personal qualifications
• Teaching ability

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Types Of Supervision
Types of Supervision: Autocratic, Laissez-faire, Democratic and Bureaucratic Supervision. These
are also called as techniques of supervision.

These are explained as under:

1. Autocratic or Authoritarian supervision: Autocratic or Authoritarian supervision:

Autocratic supervision, also known as authoritarian leadership, is a leadership style characterized
by individual control over all decisions and little input from group members. Autocratic leaders
typically make choices based on their ideas and judgments and rarely accept advice from
followers. Under this type, the supervisor wields absolute power and wants complete obedience
from his subordinates. He wants everything to be done strictly according to his instructions and
never likes any intervention from his subordinates. This type of supervision is resorted to tackle
indiscipline subordinates.

Under this type, the supervisor wields absolute power and wants complete obedience from his
subordinates. He wants everything to be done strictly according to his instructions and never
likes any intervention from his subordinates. This type of supervision is resorted to tackle
indiscipline subordinates.

2. Laissez-faire or free-rein supervision:

This is also known as independent supervision. Under this type of supervision, maximum
freedom is allowed to the subordinates. The supervisor never interferes in the work of the
subordinates. In other words, full freedom is given to workers to do their jobs. Subordinates are
encouraged to solve their problems themselves.

3. Democratic supervision:

Under this type, supervisor acts according to the mutual consent and discussion or in other words
he consults subordinates in the process of decision making. This is also known as participative or
consultative supervision. Subordinates are encouraged to give suggestions, take initiative and
exercise free judgment. This results in job satisfaction and improved morale of employees.

4. Bureaucratic supervision:

Under this type certain working rules and regulations are laid down by the supervisor and all the
subordinates are required to follow these rules and regulations very strictly. A serious note of the
violation of these rules and regulations is taken by the supervisor.

This brings about stability and uniformity in the organization. But in actual practice it has been
observed that there are delays and inefficiency in work due to bureaucratic supervision.by
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In other words it can be two types :
Direct Supervision:

 Face to face talk with worker.

 Give worker chance to reply
 Used democratic approach and avoid autocratic
 Do not talk too much and too fast

Indirect Supervision:

 With the help of record and report of the worker and through written instruction
 Insuring carrying out allotted work
 Analysis of monthly progress – input efforts and achievement
 Support and guidance

Problems Of Supervision:
Problems In Nursing Service:

 There are no perfect nursing service programs/ situations without any problems
 Shortage of nursing personnel
 Individual differencesamong personnel in interest capacities and abilities
 Lack of information insight and understanding of changes and developments in the intrest of
the continuence and improvement of nursing
 Lack of clearly defined assignment,multiple responsibility and lack of planning on the part of
those to whom personnel is responsible.
 Outdated policies,procedures and guides to workmanship which cause them to be disregarded
and unused.
 Inadequate, unsafe, and defective equipment
 Ill health in the part of personnel
 Undesirable personnel characteristics with special attention to attitudes

Conclusion
Supervision is more than inspection and investigation.It is a key to successful administration and is
most important functions in an organization.

Supervision for the clinical/counseling functions of counselors in schools and agencies should focus
on actual work samples. Using a micro-training versus a more macro approach should depend on
what works best for a particular supervisee, along with the supervisee’s level of skill and confidence.

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References:-

 B.T. Basavanthappa, ‘Nursing Administration’, Jaypee brothers, page no.126-133.

 Jean Barette, ‘Ward Management & Teaching’, 1st edition, Konark publications, New Delhi,
page no. 312-317.
 Laura Mae Douglass, ‘The effective nurse leader & manager’, 5th edition, Mosby
publication, page no. 323.
 NMC (2008) Clinical Supervision for Registered Nurses. London, Nursing and Midwifery
Council.
 Proctor B (1986) Supervision: A co-operative exercise in accountability. In: Marken& Payne,
Enabling and Ensuring. Leicester, National Youth Bureau.
 Webb L (Ed) (2009) Communication for personal and professional development. In:
Nursing: Communication skills for practice. Oxford, Oxford University Press.
 K Deepak A comprehensive text book nursing management first edition,EMMS Medical
publishers, page no426-428
 Kaur sukhbir and kaur jagjeet,’’textbook of nursing management and services,first edition
2013,jaypee brothers medical publishers page no 245
 Vati jogendra,principles and practice of nursing management and administration,first edition
2013,jaypee brothers medical publishers,page no 342 -176
 www.google.com