Jess Sainsbury
Jess is an early career registered adult and mental health nurse with a passion for enhancing and broadening the knowledge, opportunities, and experiences of all members of the nursing family. In her last year of her nurse education, Jess was Chair of the Royal College of Nursing Students Committee and encouraged collaborative working not only within the College but with key stakeholders such as the Nursing and Midwifery Council, Health Education England, and the Council of Deans – challenging hierarchy and ways of working. In addition to this, alongside her Chief Nurse and Senior Regional Nurse, Jess established the Hampshire and Isle of Wight Student Nurse Council – ensuring the voice of nursing students was heard at a strategic level within her local system.
She has recently commenced a MSc in Global Health with Health Professions Education specialist pathway, and is a Nursing Now Challengers Committee Member. Jess’ first post as a registrant was a split one, enabling her to advance her clinical skills in Older Persons Mental Health as well as her experience as an educator in the Trusts Educators in Practice team. Her special interests include clinical supervision, professional use of social media, student shared professional decision-making and advocating for the nursing profession on a global scale.
What does clinical supervision for nurses mean to you?
During wave one of the pandemic, many of my peers and I were struggling with the realities of practice at that time. Added on top of that we were battling with feelings of guilt for wanting to talk through what we were witnessing and experiencing. The majority of us did not know what clinical supervision was as it had not featured in our pre-registration education.
I want to see every future nurse and midwife understanding and accessing clinical supervision as an expected part of their practice. In order to develop our professional practice and identity we need the time to stop and think. Time to reflect. Time to acknowledge when things could have been better and grow from it. Time to acknowledge good practice and understand why in order to continue doing so. Time to understand our own emotional needs and experiences.
Clinical supervision enables this. Let’s give ourselves the time and space to practice it.
