The role of clinical supervision in the education of student psychiatric nurses: a theoretical approach.

A system of clinical supervision for student psychiatric nurses is suggested as an educational response to the rapidly changing role of the nurse. In addition to the small but expanding body of literature from the field of psychiatric nursing, research from social work, counselling, psychotherapy and teaching is also considered. A theoretical model is outlined in which supervision of students is by qualified and skilled practitioners. This is neither therapeutic nor didactic, but rather a 'parallel process' in which the supervisor-student relationship is employed as a tool to explore the student-client relationship and the therapeutic process.