Clinical supervision in nursing: from reflection to ethical decision-making

Authors

Abstract

As an inseparable process of clinical contexts, clinical supervision in nursing involves potential ethical
dilemmas and moral complexities. It offers an appropriate space for applying legal regulations and
ethical constructs inherent to the profession, as well as for engaging in ethical discussions aimed at
supporting decision-making. When faced with ethical challenges, clinical supervisors must reflect on
the ethical responsibilities associated with both supervisory practice and care provision, given their
commitment to society. The resulting benefits and harms require ethically grounded deliberation.
The goal of this article is to present a reflection on ethical decision-making within a peer supervision
process in clinical nursing practice. This reflection is developed through a case analysis using a criticalreflective
approach grounded in an ethical decision-making algorithm.

Keywords:

Supervisão Clínica, Ética Profissional, Tomada de Decisão, Análise Ética, Ensino de Enfermagem

Author Biographies

André Filipe Ventura Santos, Unidade Local de Saúde do Algarve, Portimão, Portugal.

André Filipe Ventura Santos – Mestre – andre.v.santos@ulsalg.min-saude.pt
0009-0006-7849-3281

Catarina Gomes Carvalho, Unidade Local de Saúde do Algarve, Portimão, Portugal.

Catarina Gomes Carvalho – Mestre – catarina.carvalho@ulsalg.min-saude.pt
0009-0008-8126-6228

Tiago Rebelo Santos, Unidade Local de Saúde do Algarve, Portimão, Portugal.

Tiago Rebelo Santos – Mestre – tiago.r.santos@ulsalg.min-saude.pt
0009-0009-2440-090X

Cristina Raquel Batista Costeira, Instituto Politécnico de Leiria, Leiria, Portugal./Center for Innovative Care and Health Technology, Leiria, Portugal.

Cristina Raquel Batista Costeira – Doutor – cristina.costeira@ipleiria.pt
0000-0002-4648-355X

Tânia Manuel Moço Morgado, Unidade de Investigação em Ciências da Saúde: Enfermagem, Coimbra, Portugal./Escola Superior de Enfermagem de Coimbra, Coimbra, Portugal.

Tânia Manuel Moço Morgado – Doutor – tmorgado@esenfc.pt
0000-0001-9867-6321

Vol. 33 (2025): Continued publication

Published:

2025-09-03

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.1590/1983-803420253815PT

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How to Cite

1.
Santos AFV, Carvalho CG, Rebelo Santos T, Costeira CRB, Morgado TMM. Clinical supervision in nursing: from reflection to ethical decision-making. Rev. Bioét. [Internet]. 2025 Sep. 3 [cited 2025 Oct. 9];33. Available from: https://www.revistabioetica.cfm.org.br/revista_bioetica/article/view/3815

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