In this guide
Practice supervision enables students to learn and safely achieve proficiency and autonomy in their professional role. All NMC registered nurses, midwives and nursing associates are capable of supervising students, serving as role models for safe and effective practice. Students may be supervised by other registered health and social care professionals.
2. Expectations of practice supervision
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Approved education institutions, together with practice learning partners, must ensure that:
2.1all students on an NMC approved programme are supervised while learning in practice
2.2there is support and oversight of practice supervision to ensure safe and effective learning
2.3the level of supervision provided to students reflects their learning needs and stage of learning
2.4practice supervision ensures safe and effective learning experiences that uphold public protection and the safety of people
2.5there is sufficient coordination and continuity of support and supervision of students to ensure safe and effective learning experiences
2.6practice supervision facilitates independent learning, and
2.7all students on an NMC approved programme are supervised in practice by NMC registered nurses, midwives, nursing associates, and other registered health and social care professionals.
3. Practice supervisors: role and responsibilities
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Approved education institutions, together with practice learning partners, must ensure that practice supervisors:
3.1serve as role models for safe and effective practice in line with their code of conduct
3.2support learning in line with their scope of practice to enable the student to meet their proficiencies and programme outcomes
3.3support and supervise students, providing feedback on their progress towards, and achievement of, proficiencies and skills
3.4have current knowledge and experience of the area in which they are providing support, supervision and feedback, and
3.5receive ongoing support to participate in the practice learning of students.
4. Practice supervisors: contribution to assessment and progression
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Approved education institutions, together with practice learning partners, must ensure that practice supervisors:
4.1contribute to the student’s record of achievement by periodically recording relevant observations on the conduct, proficiency and achievement of the students they are supervising
4.2contribute to student assessments to inform decisions for progression
4.3have sufficient opportunities to engage with practice assessors and academic assessors to share relevant observations on the conduct, proficiency and achievement of the students they are supervising, and
4.4are expected to appropriately raise and respond to student conduct and competence concerns and are supported in doing so.
5. Practice supervisors: preparation
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Approved education institutions, together with practice learning partners, must ensure that practice supervisors:
5.1receive ongoing support to prepare, reflect and develop for effective supervision and contribution to student learning and assessment, and
5.2have understanding of the proficiencies and programme outcomes they are supporting students to achieve.
