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The historical development of clinical supervision has been variously interpreted in the international literature. Creditable evidence has accumulated, particularly over the past two decades, to show that clinical supervision has a positive demonstrable effect on supervisees. However, comparatively little research evidence has entered the public domain on any effect that clinical supervision might have on other nominated outcomes. In Australia, developments in clinical supervision were recently prompted by initiatives at national and state levels. Since 2010, lead agencies for these have sought feedback from professional bodies and organizations on a number of inter-related draft policy documents. The present article tracked changes over time between the draft and final versions of these documents in New South Wales, and reviewed the original sources of literature cited within them. The strength of evidence upon which the final published versions were reportedly predicated was scrutinized. Upon examination, claims to the wider benefits of clinical supervision were found to be unconvincingly supported, not least because the examples selected by the agencies from the international literature and cited in their respective documents were either silent, parsimonious, or contradictory. Many claims remain at the level of folklore/hypothetical propositions, therefore, and stay worthy of rigorous empirical testing and faithful public reporting. Such investigations have been acknowledged as notoriously difficult to conduct. The present article identified noteworthy examples in the contemporary literature that signpost robust ways forward for empirical outcomes-orientated research, the findings from which might strengthen the evidence base of future policy documents., (© 2017 Australian College of Mental Health Nurses Inc.)

A recent verdict of the administrative court of Lazio Region abrogated a Decree that originally stated that nurse managers (and not the head of the medical department) should be responsible for the management of the nursing personnel, and that had set up the premises for the Nursing Departments. The verdict contrasts with a previous pronouncement of the same court (same members, same president) that supported the wards organized by intensity of care and run by nurses. The organization should be flexible and be shaped not by power struggles but by patients needs: while patients in acute care require mostly medical interventions, chronic patients require more educational and nursing interventions. The verdict is the occasion for reflections on the never ending contrasts between doctors and nurse, that often move to the background patients' priorities and care.

The authors review policy initiatives and professional organization position statements that hospital and nursing administrators should be familiar with to respond effectively to public and policy-maker concerns about substance use in healthcare settings. Detecting and addressing substance use disorders proactively and systematically are essential for 2 reasons: to protect patient safety and to enable healthcare professionals to recognize problems early and intervene swiftly. The authors identify key points and gaps in existing policy statements.

Occupational health nurses, like other registered nurses, often must decide whether to delegate. They must be familiar with the laws and standards governing delegation of nursing tasks. Many different resources exist for obtaining this information (e.g., jurisdictional nurse practice acts, position papers from boards of nursing, and publications from professional and regulatory organizations). Registered nurses who delegate must know which tasks may be delegated, how to determine the competence of delegates, and the level of supervision necessary., (Copyright 2010, SLACK Incorporated.)

Nurse labor leaders are fighting mad over last week's ruling that full-time charge nurses aren't eligible for union membership. Labor and healthcare insiders say the decision leaves gray areas that will have to be settled at the negotiating table. Barbara Medvec, left, an executive at the system that brought the case before the NLRB, says she finds the "silence" on part-time charge nurses puzzling.

Learn how the Uniformed Service Employment and Reemployment Rights Act may affect your staff members.

There has been much discussion in the past 4 years concerning the use of UAP. One thing is certain: UAP are going to be part of the healthcare team for the foreseeable future. Nurses must educate themselves to be prepared to head the team of caregivers found in today's acute care facilities. Studying the literature and being aware of the role of UAP, the legalities of nursing delegated tasks, and legislative changes will help nurses cope with the ever changing landscape of medicine.