Effects of a Participatory Supervision Program on Adaptation of Newly Recruited Nurses in the Medical Correctional Institution

Abstract

This research aims to study the effects  participatory supervision program on adaptation of newly recruited nurses in the medical correctional institution. This research was a quasi-experimental research study through purposive sampling. The samples were professional nurse who passed the examination to be recruited for civil service with experience in working in the medical correctional institutions with work period less than 2 years. The samples were divided into an experimental group of 27 people and a control group of 27 people. The control group was supervised to perform their duties according to the traditional guidelines. The experimental group received a participatory supervision program for 6 weeks. The research instruments  were 1) participatory supervision program, participatory supervision handbook, and teaching plan, and 2) the instrument for collecting data was a questionnaire. The content validity index was at 1.00 and 0.94 respectively, and the reliability of the questionnaire based on Cronbach's alpha coefficient was at 0.93. The data was analyzed through descriptive statistics, paired t-test, and independent t-test.

The results of the study found that the adaptation of experimental group for adaptation of newly recruited nurses in the medical correctional institution after participating the supervision program was higher than before using the program with statistically significant (p < .01).The experimental group after participating in the participatory supervision program was higher than the of the control group with statistically significance at p < .01. The overall adaptation was the highest level ( = 4.52, S.D. = .07).The results indicated that the participatory supervision program in the experimental group had higher scores than the control group on adaptation, especially on role function, self-concept, physiologic, and interdependence aspects. Therefore, the institution director of academic affairs could apply the participatory supervision program focusing on 3 steps: personnel preparation planning with participatory supervision by educating, practice and formulation of supervision with participation activities and participatory evaluation by supervisors and newly recruited nurses in the medical correctional institutions. Moreover, the heads of nursing units could apply the participatory supervision program for  newly recruited nurses so that they could adapt themselves in all dimensions.