Aim: The aim of the study was to describe, after 4 years, psychiatric nurses' conceptions of how a 2-year group supervision programme within nursing care had influenced their professional competence.
Background: The intention of group supervision in nursing care is to understand nurses' experiences within real care settings and to structure these in a professional and personal context.
Methods: Ten psychiatric nurses participated in a 2-year group supervision programme. They were interviewed 4 years after the group supervision was ended. Data were analysed according to the phenomenographic method.
Findings: Six description categories emerged: a feeling of job satisfaction; gaining knowledge and competence; gaining a sense of security in nursing situations; a feeling of personal development; realizing the value of supervision; and a sense of professional solidarity.
Conclusions: The findings of the 4-year follow-up showed that a group supervision programme in nursing care had lasting influences on the psychiatric nurses' professional competence in the form of a pronounced professional identity and an integrated nursing care perspective. Group supervision contributes to maintaining the strength and energy needed to carry on working, which makes continuing supervision necessary.
Implications: An important research implication could be to investigate the type of knowledge that ought to be developed within group supervision in nursing care.