What is retrospective supervision?

• A. This is often performed through chart review. Typically in the form of monthly meetings in new supervision agreements.
• B. Supervisory visits are quarterly in person.
• C. It involves live observation of procedures.
• D. It is a form of immediate feedback during patient care.

Answer: (A)

Retrospective supervision is supervision that looks back at past cases rather than watching what happens in real time. It hinges on reviewing charts or patient records after care has occurred, and then discussing those cases in scheduled sessions—often as part of a supervision agreement, like monthly meetings. This approach focuses on past decisions, documentation, and outcomes, providing feedback after the fact rather than during patient care. That’s why chart review in regularly scheduled meetings fits best. It’s different from live observation, which involves watching procedures as they happen, and from immediate feedback given during patient care, which occurs in real time.