Evaluating the need for supervision of advanced mental health practitioners in psychiatric practices in Saudi Arabia
Abstract
Purpose
Research supports the value of clinical supervision as an essential aspect of mental health nursing. Despite the need for this, there appears to be a deficit in qualified supervision in the mental health field, although efforts have been made toward advanced mental health practitioner nursing. This study aims to characterize the ideas that advanced mental health nurse practitioners hold about supervision in practice and to consider what is required to support changes to advanced mental health nursing in Saudi Arabia.
Design/methodology/approach
This study adopted a qualitative exploratory design that applied a phenomenological approach as the research method. Twelve postgraduate mental health nurses were recruited through purposive sampling.
Findings
The data analysis generated the central theme, which indicates the attributes of a competent supervisor of advanced mental health nurse practitioners. The components of a supervisor’s competence had the following three main themes: nursing competencies, professional characteristics and communication.
Research limitations/implications
A limitation of this study is that the data was collected from practicing advanced care mental health practitioners in Saudi Arabia. Further research conducted in different geographical areas and with different categories of staff is warranted. The results of those studies could be compared against the results presented here.
Practical implications
Best practice measures indicated that mental health nurse practitioners working in mental health settings and private practice should receive supervision to help them reflect upon their daily nursing practice challenges.
Originality/value
The findings of this study indicate that to support mental health practitioners and advanced mental health practitioners working in private practice, competent supervisors need to be on hand and willing to invest in creating a supportive culture in practice.
Keywords
Acknowledgements
The author thanks the Deanship of Scientific Research, College of Nursing Research center at King Saud University for funding this research.
Funding Statement and Declaration of Interests: This research did not receive any specific grant from funding agencies in the public, commercial or not-for-profit sectors.
Disclosure statement: Authors declare no financial support or relationships that may pose conflict of interest.
Citation
Alyousef, S.M. and Alhamidi, S.A. (2022), "Evaluating the need for supervision of advanced mental health practitioners in psychiatric practices in Saudi Arabia", Mental Health and Social Inclusion, Vol. ahead-of-print No. ahead-of-print. https://doi.org/10.1108/MHSI-07-2022-0043
Publisher
:Emerald Publishing Limited
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