Reframing Experience Reflection

Reflective practice is constantly changing as it adds in the learning gained from experiences. Reflective practice links events together and compares what is already known and make a decisions on the basis of this comparison. Reflective practice helps nurses to become expert practitioners due to the fact it operates from a deep understanding of the total events. Reflective practice could also be beneficial for patients and service users as it gives better standards of patient safety and is focused on individual and also evidence based care derived from their needs.

making Practice-Based Learning work Reflection on PRACTICE A resource commissioned by the Making Practice Based Learning Work project, an educational development project funded through FDTL Phase 4 Project Number 174/02 and produced by staff from the University of Ulster. www.practicebasedlearning.org Author Patricia McClure School of Health Sciences, University of Ulster www.practicebasedlearning.org contents Reflection on Practice 02

Using Gibbs’ (1998) model of reflection, updated by Bulman (2012), reflect on a challenging experience from your practice and analyse the strategies used to manage it.

I am writing this reflective journal in accordance with the CNO`s reflective practice standards and the LEARN model. Though my time on 600A has only just begun I have learned so much. Like many second year students, this is my first experience in the hospital. It has proven to be much different than my previous clinical experiences. My time with my first client stands out in my mind as a key learning experience.

During my first day at clinical placements, I was quite nervous. I performed slowly due to my anxiety and required assistance, from a health care aide, to fully complete morning care for the resident. After receiving my report to perform a bed bath for the resident, I began searching for the equipment required. I felt pressured locating supplies in an unfamiliar environment, especially under time constraints. After a time consuming process, of gathering supplies, a health care aide came in the room. She was displeased with how long I was taking mentioning that I needed to hurry, to allow the resident to be ready for breakfast at 8:00 A.M. She instructed me to watch, while she sped up the process. I apologized for taking long, explained how

Safety is very important to my client (ExxonMobil) which makes her dedicated a lot of time for safety issues. I always attended monthly safety meeting where general safety issues where talked about, including home, road and office safety. During the construction of Mobil Court Refurbishment Project I was able to identify some safety hazards, one of such was when workers were trying to remove some items from the phase two building that was although marked for demolition but has not been de-energized. I reported the situation to the health and safety manager after I have instructed the workers to leave the building because it has not been de-energised. “You see, you act”

My role in my service learning position is at Tri-City Church (also Community Bible Church... as there is currently a merge going on) of Vista, CA. My position is primarily to care for the needs of children while the mothers are able to take a break to meditate on the sermon. This care includes feeding children, playing with them, soothing them, taking care of their toileting needs, and helping sign in and out the children to their parents or family members. While I am already fairly comfortable with this routine (as I have been doing it for some time now) there is still the occasionally apprehensive moment. Occasionally I have trouble connecting with the parent's if their new to the area. Earning parents' trust can be a difficult thing to do.

Reflective Practice, according to Howatson – Jones (2013), is “defined as a process that develops understanding of what it means to be a practitioner and makes the link between theory and practice through the practitioner consciously thinking through the experience (Howatson – Jones, 2013, p8). Reflective Practice is useful tool for health professionals to help them continue learning career and enable them to learn and improve from their own professional experiences (Bright Knowledge, 2014 p1). This essay will give an overview of the benefits of implementing Reflective Practice and how it improves patient care and outcomes and how it promotes nurses to keep up to date with current professional skills. The essay will look at some possible limitations

Introduction Reflection assessment or reflective practice a central skill for nursing practitioners. It can help nurses to handle situations and improve care. Engaging in systematic reflection assessment qualifies nurses to cope with personal and professional effects of addressing vital wellbeing and health requirements on a quotidian basis. It is extensively debated that clinical apprentices should learn to become reflective practitioners and reflective assessment plays a key part in this. There are also many challenges of assessing reflection.

Starting my journey through college again was a big decision for me. Being a single parent of two children, a homeowner, and holding a stressful, full-time job left me with little free time. However, I longed to reinvent myself and find a way to advance my career. Meeting personal goals to further my education outweighed the guilt I felt, as my children were not young any longer. I decided to make advancing my education a top priority. Discovering that when I have a goal my follow through is definite, but it is not always easy. What I overlooked as I headed down the path to fulfill my educational goal, was that stress has real health consequences.

"…reflection in a mirror is an exact replica of what is in front of it. Reflection in professional practice… gives back not what it is, but what might be, an improvement on the original…" Biggs (1999).

This next chapter “Framing the Experience” was about the development stages of an internship and how these stages connect with the civic. The first stage of development is anticipation and this stages talks about how the intern is anxious about the internship and how they feel feared about not being accepted from their co-workers. Anticipation connects to civic because of how anxious an intern that they already know some terms and codes from the work cite to be prepared and ready. The second stage of development is exploration which is adjusting and adapting to the new environment and continue building process along the way. Exploration translate to civic by learning what the nonprofit organization mission is and understanding how public relevance

The cultural assignment allowed me to gain a new perspective on the differences of others. I have grown up in a household of dissimilar belief systems. My mom is a dedicated Christian while my dad is unassociated with any religious beliefs. Though, he grew up as a Jehovah’s Witness. There differing belief systems have been the cause of various conflicts within their relationship. I often wondered if people with contradicting beliefs could effectively and peacefully discuss their belief systems. This cultural experience showed me that a peaceful discussion is possible between individuals of dissimilar beliefs.

For my second observation experience, I went to the MARC. I had the opportunity to observe a DPT3 student from UTHSCSA who was on his 3rd rotation. The MARC has a system setup for how they handle each patient, whether it be an initial evaluation or a regular treatment session. Patients first check-in and then are sent to the waiting room. The technician checks each patients’ vital signs prior to exercise. I think this is such an important step that so many clinics don’t do. By checking vitals prior to exercise, you are able to ensure their safety and be the first line of defense if they are having any underlying heart issues such as unmonitored high blood pressure. If it is an initial evaluation for the patient, then they will be greeted by the treating physical therapist and evaluated for treatment. I liked the way they did this at the MARC but from what I understood the patients are evaluated out in the gym area with no privacy. I believe with many diagnoses it would be beneficial for the MARC to have rooms to make the evaluation process more private. If the patient is presenting to the clinic for a regular treatment session, then the therapist will either greet them to begin with manual therapy or the technician will start them on their prescribed exercises.

I believe that true learning requires much more than simply listening to a lecture, reading from a book, or watching a video. While these all may be involved in the process of learning, hands-on experience and a real desire for knowledge of the subject are needed to truly learn.