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Summary
The reflective process allows nurses to view their practice by bringing their theoretical knowledge and nursing practice closer together. In this article, a nursing student describes different methods of reflection and applies them to her experience of bathing a patient. Issues of bathing, preparation and the conflicts with time management are explored, demonstrating the benefits of reflection as a tool for learning.
Authors
Hannah O'Regan is a nursing student; Tonks (Josephine) Fawcett is head of nursing studies/senior lecturer, University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh. Email: [email protected]
Keywords
Bathing; Nursing students; Reflection; Student learning
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(ProQuest Information and Learning: ... denotes text missing in the original.)
Aims and intended learning outcomes
The aim of this article is to encourage a more critical and reflective examination of what is everyday practice for many nurses. After reading this article you should be able to:
* Clarify differences between reflection and everyday practice.
* Examine how experience contributes to practice decisions.
* Explore the part that emotions, such as pleasure or doubt, can play in nursing care delivery.
* Examine what is meant by therapeutic care.
Introduction
Johns (2000) describes reflection as a means whereby nurses can bring into closer alignment their theoretical knowledge and the practice of nursing. In the pursuit of best practice, the incorporation of reflective practice has become integral both tor the nurse learner and for continuing professional development (CPD). Such an approach to nurse learning fosters a questioning approach, not only on experiences but also on the 'self with an openness to acknowledge the ideal, the less than ideal and embrace the opportunity to change and develop. Critical reflection is the use of the reflective process to look systematically and rigorously at practice (Rolfe et el 2001 ). It should be regarded as a conscious process, not happening automatically but with a definite purpose in response to an experience (Douglas 1999), the goal being to achieve understanding, insight and new knowledge about practice (McKenna 1997).
Reflection is a skill and, like all skills, must be learned through...