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Reflective practice can be used to help nurses to make sense of work situations and, ultimately, to improve care. A simple, three-stage model is proposed
Keywords: Reflective practice/ Reflective cycle/Professional development
Abstract Oelofsen N (2012) Using reflective practice in frontline nursing. Nursing Times; 108: 24, 22-24.
Reflection on practice is a key skill for nurses. Engaging in regular reflection enables practitioners to manage the personal and professional impact of addressing their patients' fundamental health and wellbeing needs on a daily basis.
This article briefly reviews the theoretical background underpinning the idea of reflective practice. A simple, three-step model for practical reflection is presented, which is based on theory and grounded in practice. The three-stage cycle is illustrated with a fictional clinical example to show how this reflective method can make a difference in busy practice settings.
In this article...
* The theoretical basis for reflective practice
* A three-stage model for practical reflection
* An example of the model in practice
Reflective practice can be defined as the process of making sense of events, situations and actions that occur in the workplace (Oelofsen, 2012; Boros, 2009). Although many, if not all, initial nurse education programmes (leading to registration) include modules on reflective practice, organised opportunities to reflect are rare in the busy, pressurised world of frontline practice.
I believe that scheduling time for reflection in practitioners' busy day-to-day lives in frontline services is essential for improving service quality, providing much-needed support to staff, and facilitating team members' professional development. In this article I offer a simple reflective method, which can be used in frontline settings to support effective reflective practice, together with its theoretical rationale. I conclude by offering a simple example of how such a reflective process might look and the kinds of outcomes that can be expected from using the model in everyday practice.
Theory of reflective practice
In frontline settings such as hospitals, mental health wards and community services nurses have important roles in addressing basic human needs related to the physical and mental wellbeing of patients and service users. Working reflectively in these settings is important for nurses for a variety of reasons, including:
* There is an emotional cost to nurses of caring for others who are vulnerable....