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# 1.1 Practice Supervisors

Key principles of effective student nurse supervision:

- All student nurses and midwives must be supervised in practice learning environments by a registered professional, for example an NMC registered nurse or midwife, or another registered health or social care professional.
- All student nurses and midwives must be supported and supervised in practice learning environments to support appropriate learning.
- Students must be supervised in a manner that supports their level of experience and learning and to protect public safety.
- Student nurses and midwives’ supervision should encourage them to learn in an independent manner.
- Student nurse associates can be assigned either to a registered nursing associate or a registered nurse as their practice supervisor.

Key principles of practice supervision – role and responsibility:

- To undertake suitable preparation to prepare practitioners to become Practice Supervisors for student nurses and midwives.
- Practice Supervisors act as role models working in accordance with the NMC code of conduct.
- To promote a positive learning culture, enabling and empowering student nurses and midwives to achieve the NMC proficiencies and skills.
- Have appropriate knowledge and skills to provide support, supervise student practise, provide effective supportive feedback to student nurses and midwives and contribute towards assessment.

## Activity 1

Watch this animation from the RCN (2020) explaining more about the practice supervisor role: Practice Supervision animation.

According to the NMC: ‘Practice supervisors’ role is to support and supervise nursing and midwifery students in the practice learning environment. All students must be supervised while learning in practice environments’.

Now you have watched this animation you should reflect on your own skills and readiness for undertaking the role of a Practice Supervisor.

Formulate 3–4 key action points for development in order for you to take on the role of a Practice Supervisor.

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In order to understand your role better in relation to practice supervision and assessment, please also go to the following NMC webpage and read more about the Practice Supervisor and Practice Assessor responsibilities. After you have completed this write down below in the text box the key points that are relevant to your role.

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### Discussion

Your answers to this activity will be personal to yourself. In capturing the 3–4 action points you can develop these further into a robust action plan. Not only can this action plan be used for your next appraisal, the work you do can also be used as evidence of study hours completed when you next re-validate with the NMC.

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OpenLearn - Practice supervision and assessment in nursing
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