How to strengthen compassion through situational supervision

Background
Recruitment and retention of nursing students has become more important than ever. Throughout the nursing program, the students learn both practical and philosophical aspects of care. In order to minimize the theory-practice gap lecturers, clinical supervisors and students, in University College Lillebaelt, decided to develop innovative practical tools for training and reflection on compassion in the clinical placement. Hence to strenghten the professional identity.
Method
A working group consisting of both clinical supervisors, academic lecturers, researchers and students developed a teaching strategy and new tools in a co-design process. Behind the tools, we find support from learning and nursing theories. We propose that this collaborative design can support the transition from a “sense, feel and do- reflections” into well-substantiated nursing interventions grounded on compassionate care.
The tools:
Video diary: The student records a diary on thoughts and feelings after having met a patients suffering. The supervisor gives appreciative feedback.
Flipflap a dialogue tool: To open up talking about difficult emotions
Reflection cards: To facilitate a deeper conversation about compassion.
The Compassion star model: To sustain in-depth reflections on a complex situation.
These tools are introduced to 46 participants in a workshop, underpinning that the students and the instructors decide which tool, they find suitable in the situation.
Results
A group of researchers will evaluate the use of the toolbox spring 2023
Tools and pre-results from this study will be presented.