The transition from a newly graduate nurse to a confident, capable nurse is a difficult evolution for any individual. The use of reflection enables the individual to develop their skills and knowledge in a structured way, encourages change when possible and allows for acceptance of difficult thoughts and feelings. There are several types of reflective models and it is important for the individual to find what best suits them. Reflection can be useful to learn from experience, develop critical thinking, teach emotional maturity, and empower graduate nurses while teaching them a lifelong skill.
The types of reflection best utilised may vary from person to person and even change over time (Ashby, 2006). This does not suggest that reflection
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The ability to assess a patient, incorporating results from multiple different tests, analysing objective and subjective data, then relating this information to actual and potential risks is crucial to creating a providing effective, individualised care (Asselin & Cullen, 2011). Utilising the different models of reflection, graduate nurses can develop their critical thinking and analysis skills by reflecting on past experiences and determining how to provide better care in future (Caldwell & Grobbel, 2013). In the Gibbs model, participants are instructed to ask themselves questions about their own actions and the actions of those around them. The process of breaking down what actions did and did not work in a particular situation teaches the individual to critically evaluate scenarios and determine likely outcomes (Caldwell & Grobbel, 2013). Seeking feedback from mentors has proven to be of even more benefit as the novice is able to confirm areas of success and isolate areas in need of improvement (Schwindt & McNelis, 2015). One individual’s research reported that reflection on practice is often as a result of a collapse in clinical judgement (Lim & Shi, 2013), and is essential to identify gaps in knowledge and improve practice. It is through the experience of failure that the individual discovers the need for improvement and through reflection they discover what changes to implement and how to do it (Lim & Shi,
The model of reflection chosen for this essay is Gibbs’ reflective cycle (1988). This model has been chosen as it has clear systematic headings; it allows the individual to reflect precisely and accurately, (Jasper, 2003). The Gibbs’ reflective cycle incorporates 6 stages of refection (figure 2), (Rolfe et al, 2011).
Reflective practice in nursing is the process where we examine our nursing ability’s and practice in order to critically think and analyze the way we work and think about the views of others in our practice, what we could have done and we could have achieved a greater result by doing this also allows us as nurses to include best practice and use our own judgment in patient care to show the factors that either aid and hinder nurse to patient relationship. (Lowenstein, Bradshaw and Fuszard, 2001) described reflecting in nursing practice “the nurse must first come to understand what he or she defines as ideal practice”.
Reflection is an important tool for all health care practitioners. It can improve our skills and help us understand the choices we make while in practice. Williams (2001) states that “Reflective learning involves assessment and re-assessment of assumptions and critical reflection occurs whenever
I believe that reflective practice is essential to carrying out clinical skills effectively. It allows the nurse to reflect on their actions and perhaps, think what they will do if a similar scenario were to occur at a future stage. I reviewed Kolb's model of reflection. This
This class was very challenging, interesting, and informative. First, students must push themselves to expand their knowledge and help themselves become more inquisitive, critical, reflective, and problem solve. As future professional nurse practitioner, we are striving for integrating clinical judgment skills. The knowledge gained in the textbook must be applied in the clinical settings without discrimination.
Personal reflection in nursing is essential and critical as it allows for continuous development and re-assessment of skills whilst working within a health care setting (Reflective practice: a tool to enhance professional practice 2011, pp.1-3). Personal reflection is important as reflective practice allows for the ability for one to reflect and examine their actions and experiences which overall will increase and enhance their clinical knowledge, as well as developing and improving their practice (Reflective practice: a tool to
As the nurses who participated in a study (Jones & Cheek, 2003) overwhelmingly advised, there is no such thing as a typical day for a nurse. Nurses face new situations everyday and it is important that they can adjust their knowledge and skills accordingly. Critical thinking and reflection are essential skills because they can enhance nurses’ ability to solve problems and make sound decisions. Critical thinking skills enable nurses to identify multiple possibilities in clinical situations and alternatives to interventions; weigh the consequences of alternate actions; and make sound judgement and decisions (Brunt, 2005). Through reflection, nurses can examine their practice, explore feelings and reactions and connect new meanings to past experience (Brunt). Reflection can enhance self-awareness, foster professional satisfaction and growth and increase the possibility for change and improvement in nursing practice and therapeutic relationships (Thorne & Hayes, 1997).
Burns, S. Bulman, C. Palmer, A. (1997) Reflective Practice in Nursing - The growth of the professional practitioner. London: Blackwell Science.
Gustaffson and Fagerberg point out that reflective practice has relevance for clinical practice as by understanding the contents of nurses’ reflections, it is also possible to understand the advantages of reflective practice and how and when such measures should be used by the nurses for further professional development.
I will use a reflective model to discuss how I have achieved the necessary level of competence in my nurse training programme. The reflective model I have chosen to use is Gibbs model (Gibbs 1988). Gibbs model of reflection incorporates the following: description, feelings, evaluation, analysis, conclusion and an action plan (Gibbs 1988). The model will be applied to the essay to facilitate critical thought, relating theory to practice where the model allows. Discussion will include the knowledge underpinning practice and the evidence base for the clinical skill. A conclusion to the essay will
In recent years, reflection and reflective practice have become well-known term with in the health care arena. They are words that have been debated and discussed with in the health care setting (Tony and Sue 2006). Reflective practice is essential for nurses, as nurses are responsible for providing care to the best of their ability to patients and their families (NMC, 2008). Reid (1993) states reflection is a process of reviewing an experience of practice in order to describe, analyse, evaluate and so inform learning about practice. Johns (1995) notes that reflection enables practitioners to assess, understand and learn through their experience. Reflective practice, therefore, offers nurses an opportunity to review their decisions and
Critical reflection is vital to develop evidence based practice for safe and quality approaches to professional nursing practice. Nursing professionals should critically reflect on events to identify what health professionals might do to improve their practice and reduce the risk of a similar error. Reflective practice can help to learn from their mistakes, be empowered and most importantly to deliver best possible care to patient as nurses must work closely with their patients to develop a therapeutic relationship. Critical reflection is a valuable skill to ensure patient centred care. This practice promotes personal development by enhancing students’ self-awareness, their sense of community, and their sense of their own capacities for
For the purpose of this essay, I have selected Gibbs (1988) Reflective Learning Cycle to reflect on an aspect of individual professional practice, which requires development in preparation for my role as a Registered Nurse. Gibbs (1988) Model of Reflection provides a clear description of a situation, analysis of feelings, evaluation of the experience, conclusion, and action plan to make sense of the experience to examine what you would do if the situation happens again.
Developing my holistic nursing practice or looking at who I have become as a nurse today has been a journey that has helped defined who I am today. When I look back at when I originally became a nurse over 16 years ago, I am proud of who I have become. When I finished nursing school and began my job as a new nurse I thought I had all the tools to be the best nurse I could be. I understood the nursing process, I recognized the skills needed at the bedside to be a nurse, and I felt I had great nursing documentation skills. Soon I learned that wasn’t all of what I needed.
In addition to other learning theories and teaching strategies, Schӧn’s reflection model would be helpful in integrating theory into practice. When I developed and conducted my teaching plan based on reflection, it became profitable for the development of my career as a nurse educator and for the quality of my teaching. Schӧn’s reflection model is not only a useful tool for my personal development, it is also a process for changing the way I teach and learn, through examining practice in a critical and analytical way. The key to effective teaching and learning is through reflection in and on action. To conduct an effective teaching plan, I ought to have the capacity for self-reflection, critical and analytical thinking