Premium
Novice occupational therapists’ perceptions of readiness to undertake fieldwork supervision
Author(s) -
Hunt Kate,
KennedyJones Mary
Publication year - 2010
Publication title -
australian occupational therapy journal
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.595
H-Index - 44
eISSN - 1440-1630
pISSN - 0045-0766
DOI - 10.1111/j.1440-1630.2010.00859.x
Subject(s) - occupational therapy , supervisor , perception , focus group , psychology , medical education , metropolitan area , nursing , medicine , management , psychiatry , pathology , neuroscience , business , marketing , economics
Aim: This study investigated new graduate occupational therapists’ perceived readiness for the fieldwork supervisor role at a metropolitan Melbourne Hospital.Methods: Data from four in‐depth individual interviews and a focus group conducted with sevenGrade 1 occupational therapists were analysed thematically. An iterative process was used to develop themes from the categories of data.Results: The new graduate occupational therapists’ perceived readiness for supervising students was strongly influenced by a sense of still learning themselves. High expectations were expressed of the supervisory role. Active support and supervision from the workplace and the university are seen as neccessary.Conclusions: A deeper understanding of the supervisory role and associated skills required for new graduate therapists is needed. Support from senior colleagues and workshops conducted by the university to up‐skill the therapists are recommended.