There are a variety of reasons why clinical supervision is relevant for nurses caring for people with HIV. Since HIV has become a chronic condition rather than a life-threatening, terminal illness there is now a far greater emphasis on care in the community. Working in the community or general practice requires the nurse to work more autonomously than within the acute sector. This is an attractive aspect of the job for many nurses. However, it potentially poses challenges that warrant the provision of supervision on account of the complexity of clients’ health issues, and the resultant risks to which the supervisee, clients and the employer might be exposed. 

There are numerous potential risks, for example, ethical dilemmas, clinical, psychosocial and cultural challenges and, with the emergence of the SARS-CoV 2 virus (COVID-19), actual physical risks for the healthcare worker and/or potentially immunosuppressed, or unvaccinated clients. 

For example, a nurse may be asked by their client for advice on an ethical dilemma around the sharing of information about their blood-borne virus status or safer sexual or injecting practices. It is, at the best of times, difficult to answer queries of this sort briefly, without the opportunity to explore the context and reason behind the question.  In the context of a nursing appointment, this may be even harder, because it is important to provide a response delivered in a respectful and non-discriminatory manner whilst also being clinically accurate. Of equal importance, if the nurse were to provide misinformation in this situation, the client (and others) may, inadvertently, be harmed.  

Apart from the potential for harm, there is also a risk that the organisation may be held responsible for the information offered. The organisation’s reputation might be affected and the potential for litigation increased. 

With regular clinical supervision, issues such as these can be discussed, and skills developed to address them safely.