FACILITATING LEARNING AND ASSESSING IN PRACTICE

Facilitating learning

Facilitating Learning and Assessing In Practice

Log 1 Aim and Learning out come

This is a reflective essay based on my experiences whilst on my six week medical placement on a haematology ward at a local hospital. The aim of this essay is to discuss the psychological and sociological impact on the family when a loved one dies, and then focus on how the nurse supported the husband and relatives through their loss. I chose this particular incident as I felt very strongly about the care given to this patient shortly before her death, and felt the need to reflect on it further.

In order to help me with my reflection I have chosen Gibbs (1988), as the model to help guide my reflective process. This model comprises of a process that helps the individual look at a situation and think about their thoughts and feelings at the time of the incident. Reflective skills help us to think about what could have been done, so that if a similar situation occurs again the experience gained can be used to deal with the situation in a professional manner (Woodward S 1997 Pp. 34-35).

To enable me to use this situation for my reflection the patient will be referred to as "Ann". This is in order that her real name is protected and that confidentially maintained in line with the NMC (2002) Code of Professional Conduct. Advantages

Learning by mistakes through reflection

Reflective practice can contribute to the continuing professional development of nurses by learning from mistakes and from accomplishments. Johns (1995) comments that the nurse can evaluate infer and gain knowledge from their experiences through reflection.

Learning by mistakes through reflection means taking time to think about the way practice has been completed, what was successful and what the nurse might have done differently. By reviewing a process after it has happened a nurse can learn to reflect not only on the expected outcomes, those identifiable before the process, but also on the unexpected. This can be summarised as prospective and retrospective learning. It can be extremely rewarding to analyse working practice and systems (Boyd, E.M., Fales, A.W. 1983 Pp. 99-102)

Reflective practice enhances traditional forms of knowledge for nursing practice by finding different approaches to procedures claims that one would be able recognise problems in practice and establish new approaches to practice through reflecting in journals.

Gibbs reflective cycle (1988) was meant for the nurse to be able to reflect on a procedure and through doing this would be able to come up with different approaches to future situations.

A nurse can learn and become confident through reflecting on an incident. When a procedure has not gone to plan, they can reassess and improve on their skills the next time they carry out a procedure. The nurse can also reflect on a positive incident and look at how well the carried out the procedure and therefore become more confident.

Qualified nurses using reflective practice as a tool, have more confidence in challenging themselves ...