Clinical supervision coaching program for head nurses and its relation to their professional identity

Background: While formal education and training establish the basis for new leadership roles, coaching helps the nurse manager to put this training into use.Aim: To explore the effect of clinical supervision coaching program in relation to head nurses’ professional identity.Methods: Quasi-experimental research design was employed in conducting the study. This study was conducted at Menoufia University Hospitals, Egypt. A group of (41) head nurses and a group of (205) staff nurses were selected for this study. Three tools were used; Knowledge questionnaire about clinical supervision, clinical supervision effectiveness scale and professional identity questionnaire.Results: The majority of the studied head nurses had inadequate levels of knowledge (95.1%) and clinical supervision effectiveness (65.9%) at the pre coaching phase and had significantly improved in the post and follow up phases. Professional identity was also low (80.5%) at the pre coaching phase and had significantly improved after coaching.Conclusions: There was a positive correlation between the head nurse’s clinical supervision knowledge and effectiveness and their professional identity at all study phases. Coaching was effective in improving clinical supervision and professional identity.Implications: It is recommended that coaching be used to support head nurses in a wide range of situations: orientation as a new nurse manager, support during role transitions, during new initiatives and during changing responsibilities as well as for ongoing development and succession planning that maximize their professional capabilities.