benefits of reflective writing in nursing research

I now feel more confident dealing with situations where someone is putting me under pressure and there are no clear answers. The samples consisted For more information:  www.thewritingpath.wordpress.com, Rose Simon, artist, writer and workshop facilitator, developed The Creative Journey Workshop Series to encourage inner exploration and self-reflection. However, it is often loosely defined, and may be seen by hard-pressed nurses as just another pressure on their time, rather than something that will help make their job easier. Wandai Maposa, haemophilia lead clinical nurse specialist at St George’s Hospital…, Please remember that the submission of any material is governed by our, EMAP Publishing Limited Company number 7880758 (England & Wales) Registered address: 7th Floor, Vantage London, Great West Road, Brentford, United Kingdom, TW8 9AG, We use cookies to personalize and improve your experience on our site. Reflective practice is widely assumed to be part of healthcare practice, and its nature and evolution is well documented (Gibbs, 1988; Schön, 1983; Dewey, 1933). It is your journey—there is no right or wrong way to do it— just your way. Recognising the emotional cost of nursing is core to reflective practice. Chin Nurs Res 2015;29:1548-1549 (in Chinese). We use cookies to help provide and enhance our service and tailor content and ads. Schön DA (1983) The Reflective Practitioner: How Professionals Think in Action. Reflective practice is necessary in nursing due to the high emotional cost of the work, especially in today’s high-pressured NHS. Nursing and Midwifery Council (2015) What Revalidation is and When it will Begin. Not being able to give her any clear information makes me feel powerless and inadequate. Article Source. Rose offers a wealth of writing exercises that can be custom designed for specific needs such as coping with change, envisioning goals and dreams, exploring personal creativity and writing through grief and loss. None of the models provides a definitive answer (Finlay, 2008) but most depict a circular process, as in Gibbs’ (1988) example (Fig 1, attached). Copyright © 2020 Elsevier B.V. or its licensors or contributors. Her undergraduate studies emphasized creative writing and studio art. We have won a grant for research into the effectiveness of reflective practice in preventing staff burn-out, which will help us build up a case to run regular monthly reflective practice groups. Although it does not require technical writing or gathering resources, you cannot just look at examples of … I cofacilitate multidisciplinary reflective practice groups when there is a crisis or difficult case within the trust’s four intensive care teams. This may feel uncomfortable at first, but the insights it gives can help people make sense of confusing and challenging situations and find better ways to respond. Once we begin and maintain the writing process, we open the door to our own self-knowledge. This will serve as a reference point in your personal history. Learn how your comment data is processed. We find startling insights, fresh perspectives and fascinating glimpses into our creative imagination. I started this work after attending a training day on how to be a reflective practice facilitator. In their daily work nurses might want to hide their feelings of uncertainty and unease. Often you will find that once you start answering questions, more questions come to the surface of your mind. This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Oermann MH. The study was conducted in the teacher’s attempt to explore the benefits of reflective journal writing in her own teaching context. The reality of implementing reflective practice groups in the NHS is shown by the experience of Elmien Brink, a health professional who runs multidisciplinary reflective practice groups as part of her staff support role (Box 2). Typically, engaging in reflective practice involves the following steps: The effect of reflective practice on the individual and their practice is illustrated in the fictional example described in Box 1. The joy in success does not come from reaching an end but in enjoying the challenge of getting thereJ,

. I am more aware of why I sometimes feel anxious and uncomfortable and, rather than trying to respond quickly to keep people’s hopes up, I am more open and honest. In this way, the person’s emotions are “held” by the listener, making them easier to bear and to think about (Winnicott, 1945). They are able to: The reflective process involves people openly looking at and challenging themselves and increasing their self-awareness. Winnicott DW (1945) Primitive emotional development. Instead of being denied or discounted, their thoughts and feelings are valued and examined carefully and with interest, to gain new insights to inform future work. You will notice the difference in the tone of your writing from the early morning, the “anything can show up on the page” writing, to the more questioning, observing and reflecting mood of your “Night Writes”. The groups must not become “moaning” sessions or be about problem-solving, as this stops the reflective process and can prevent people addressing problems with their managers or other professionals. Congrats. Oxford: Oxford Brookes University. I avoid her when she is visiting, but I don’t think I should behave in this way. Making people feel better is important to me, which means I want to protect people from painful experiences. Nurses’ response to their work may involve difficult thoughts and feelings as a result of working with vulnerable individuals in a highly stressful environment. An excellent technique to further enhance self-exploration in the journal is the practice of answering questions. Writing that reveals, heals. It also gives a variety of different inputs and insights, which can make discussion more fruitful. b.a.smith@abdn.ac.uk PURPOSE: To illustrate the importance of considering the researcher's written reflections on the qualitative research process as a valuable source of data and as a means of enhancing ethical and methodologic rigour. In a world that prizes certainty and speed, assessment and statistics, the idea of pausing, engaging with feelings and staying with uncertainty, is often viewed with suspicion and cynicism. When it comes to journal writing, there are no rules. New York, NY: Palgrave Macmillan. It is an effective means of providing focus and clarity to issues, concerns, conflicts and confusions. There, she teaches first-year writing, peer tutoring in composition, global rhetoric, and courses in writing and rhetoric. You are in charge of your journal writing process and how your writing path unfolds. The second suggestion is to write often in order to establish the writing practice in your life, at least in the beginning. Far from being about restriction or limitation, containment is an enabling process. Her work suggests there is a demand for reflective practice, with facilitated groups fulfilling an important function for staff. Copyright © 2014 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved. Ward M. National School Nursing Professional Practice Standards 2nd ed. 14. A group offers individuals the support of others and a shared experience that can help normalise difficult feelings. You will find your truth. Author: Sarah Knight is counselling psychologist at Psychotherapy for Healthcare, London. In our example in Box 1, the nurse’s feelings are “contained” through the process of reflection, and this makes her more able to contain the feelings of the relative who needs support. The groups take time to embed and for all the staff to trust in them. Whether taken individually or as a series, they support the quest for self-renewal, personal exploration and creativity using the power of writing as its core. In this article we will show how reflective practice can be a useful, efficient and valuable element to nursing, especially when carried out in facilitated groups. The Center is recognized for its excellence in training and leadership in the field and is approved as a national provider of continuing education for licensed counselors and psychotherapists. Elmien Brink, palliative care worker, intensive care, King’s College Hospital, London. Sign in or Register a new account to join the discussion. Ford S (2014) Stress levels at work making nurses ill, finds survey. But I also feel the added pressure of responsibility for Mary. Author information: (1)University of Aberdeen, Centre for Advanced Studies in Nursing, Scotland. Setting up the groups takes careful preparation and there are obstacles. A facilitated reflective practice group allows the facilitator and the group to fulfil the containing function. It is also an excellent time to consider what you are grateful for in your day. Nursing Times; 10 December. Citation: Knight S (2015) Realising the benefits of reflective practice. 2012. We describe how our research-based assessment process and findings yielded insights into students’ writing processes, promoted metacognition and transfer of learning, and revealed a variety of professional development needs. With this method you explore insights, pose and answer questions and record observations of what occurred in your day. If you camouflage the truth from yourself in your journal, you are defeating the purpose of writing—which is to get to know yourself. Journal to the Self Workshop™ has been taught to thousands of people in the United States and five other countries. Too many people want something for nothing. Shift patterns mean people have to come early or stay late to attend the groups. We argue that integrating reflection into existing assignments has three potential benefits: enhancing assessment of learning outcomes, fostering student learning, and engaging faculty in professional development. Gibbs G (1988) Learning by Doing: A Guide to Teaching and Learning Methods. It serves no purpose to be dishonest or evasive in your writing. Reflective practice is necessary in nursing due to the high emotional cost of the work, especially in today’s high-pressured NHS. Continue answering and asking for as long as you enjoy the process. What you discover from this writing practice will amaze you. By continuing you agree to the use of cookies. Now, in the pages of your journal, you are given permission and are safe to tell it “like it is,” perhaps for the first time. Reflective practice explicitly considers the emotional effect nurses and patients have on each other, and what practitioners can learn from their thoughts and feelings. Because…what reveals…heals. Elements of reflective practice may already be present in nursing teams, perhaps in private self-reflection or during supervision. applied reflective journals in one of her Englishmajored classes for the first time- . She shows the benefits to staff and their practice, as well as highlighting how resistance to implementing reflective practice groups can be overcome through initiative, perseverance and creative thinking. Greater self-awareness helps them make sense of difficult feelings; Individuals test out what they have learned as further situations arise. The purpose is not so much how you write or when you write, but rather, that you continue to write. Students described their processes more than they engaged in metacognition. It is all good. The doctors do not know what the outcome will be and I know Mary has been told this. This article presents a model of reflective writing used to assess a U.S. general education first-year writing course. Whether taken individually or as a series, they support the quest for self-renewal, personal exploration and creativity using the power of writing as its core. 15. Giving them the opportunity to look more closely at themselves in a safe and nurturing environment allows them to become more present for their patients and more able to respond effectively to individual needs. It happens when people show by their response, tone of voice and expression that they are listening with care to what the person says (Spurling, 2004). Johns C (2013) Becoming a Reflective Practitioner. This is not ideal, but in the absence of a reflective culture at work, it is a necessary compromise. We argue that integrating reflection into existing assignments has three potential benefits: enhancing assessment of learning outcomes, fostering student learning, and engaging faculty in professional development. Implementing reflective practice groups. Reflective practice is vital in nursing because of the emotional cost of the work, particularly in today’s high-pressured NHS, The reflective process is structured and focused with an aim to improve practice, It is most effective in facilitated groups, where it can give significant benefits for staff and their practice, There is still cultural resistance to a process that means talking about feelings and lacks an evidence base, Trying out reflective groups in individual teams is a useful first step to gain people’s confidence and show the rewards. They must respond to patients’ non-clinical needs, families’ demands and emotional needs, and disparity between professionals. Containment is a process, whereby a person conveys their state of mind to others, so it is transformed into something tolerable and meaningful (Spurling, 2004). She has presented these workshops to businesses, colleges, wellness, cancer and retreat centers, state conferences and women’s self-growth groups.She received her Masters of Arts in Integrated Arts and Education with an emphasis on teaching and curriculum planning from the University of Montana. I can’t protect her from fear, frustration and sadness, but I can let her know that I understand how hard it must be. Only suggestions and the suggestions are few. What is deemed a critical incident to most people soon becomes the norm in nursing practice, or “just part of the job” - which means the emotional cost of nursing can be neglected. It is an effective means of providing focus and clarity to issues, concerns, conflicts and confusions. Thanks for sharing your experience. She has been certified through the Center of Journal Therapy, Colorado, for the past decade to teach specific journal techniques. Engaging in reflective writing to support your Learning Power can crystallise learning processes and outcomes in your mind and helps to rearrange the files of learning, reducing confusion and clearing mental pathways. NHS England’s chief executive, Simon Stevens, describes it as “the biggest challenge in its history’ and emphasises the need to work together on ‘the biggest effort the NHS has ever seen” (Campbell, 2014). Wow… never even heard of this… very nice for you. This article presents a model of reflective writing used to assess a U.S. general education first-year writing course. Both are significant and powerful techniques. Drawing on work undertaken in one trust, it shows that it is reflective practice groups, with particular benefits for multidisciplinary teams. We become aware of ourselves, the consequences of our actions, our strengths, our limitations, as well as what gives us joy, the passions and dreams that ignite us and our unique gifts—all which illuminate who we really are and what our contribution to the world is. San Francisco, CA: Jossey-Bass. This experience of being contained not only makes individuals more able to contain themselves but also enables them to be a better container for others. ‘With creative thinking, you can give compassionate care’, 01 June, 2015 Assessing reflections revealed effective practices and areas needing improvement. The anxiety I feel is the same as when I am under pressure - like being put on the spot in a meeting. The ground rules have to be very clear. It pinpoints exactly where you were in your life at what was going on at that time. By NT Contributor, Facilitated reflective practice groups are a good way of equipping NHS nurses to deal with increased work pressures. Campbell D (2014) Health service facing biggest challenge in its history, new NHS chief says. Reflective practice has been described as the process of “learning through and from experience towards gaining new insights of self and/or practice”, often by “examining assumptions of everyday practice” (Finlay, 2008). ScienceDirect ® is a registered trademark of Elsevier B.V. ScienceDirect ® is a registered trademark of Elsevier B.V. The workshop was developed by Kathleen Adams, RPT, LPC, founder of the Center of Journal Therapy since 1985. Conclusion. I realise I wanted to protect Mary from the prospect of losing her mother and felt it would be unbearable for her to talk about the uncertainty of the future. By writing fast and without censorship, we allow our mind to spill forth its treasures onto the page. However, making it part of a regular, ongoing facilitated group gives the process greater focus, structure and depth. Her undergraduate studies emphasized creative writing and studio art. Nursing is, to some extent, aligned with the medical model, equipping practitioners to address medical matters with a clear intervention to resolve a problem. All writing is powerful and all writing serves you. Learning to tolerate the “not knowing”, and the anxiety this evokes, allows practitioners to reach an authentic place, in which they acknowledge there are often no right or wrong answers. Many staff have attended the groups, and there has been a lot of positive feedback. Reflective practice in action: an example of how using reflective practice can help a nurse. I hate not having answers. They are able to view their responses with greater compassion, and recognise when they need extra support. The growing needs of an ageing population, increased financial pressures and ever-rising public expectations are placing a heavy burden on the NHS. Nurses work in an environment that displays human vulnerability in a striking way and involves witnessing trauma, injury and distress on a daily basis. When you journal first thing in the morning, you capture fresh thoughts from a mind still making the transition from subconscious to conscious. Her research interests include transfer of learning, research methodologies, and writing centers. The three-fold benefit of reflective writing: Improving program assessment, student learning, and faculty professional development. I have worked in a caring role for a large part of my life. Look at yourself with open and compassionate eyes. Reflective practice is necessary in nursing as the job carries with it a high emotional cost and the difficulties and uncertainties that nurses encounter in their daily work - particularly in the current NHS, which is highly pressured. Zhang YF, Zeng TY. She currently teaches courses in first-year writing, ethnography, and the histories of Western rhetorics. Choose questions that demand your attention. The Guardian; 1 April. Mrs Green is in her 70s and has a cancer that is difficult to treat. This increases her tolerance of the situations that cause her anxiety and allows her to be more present for those who need her help. However, writing a reflective journal nursing is not that easy. Brookfield S (1995) Becoming a Critically Reflective Teacher. Nursing Times; 111: 23/24, 17-19. Some will resonate with you immediately; some you may have to experiment with a bit to feel comfortable and others you may decide don’t suit you or your writing style. Finlay L (2008) Reflecting on “Reflective Practice”. One suggestion is to always date the page. Reflective practice. A range of different models of reflective practice have been developed for various professional groups (Johns, 2013; Brookfield, 1995; Kolb, 1984). The Best American Essays 2016 (The Best American Series ®), Everybody Writes: Your Go-To Guide to Creating Ridiculously Good Content, The Content Code: Six essential strategies to ignite your content, your marketing, and your business, Letting Go of the Words: Writing Web Content that Works (Interactive Technologies), Technical Writing – Writing in “Standard Written English”, Writing for Cash – The Myth and the Reality. We conclude with a description of our three-fold model of reflection and suggest how others can adapt our approach. Just allow yourself to follow the trail of your questions. She shows the benefits to staff and their practice, as well as highlighting how resistance to implementing reflective practice groups can be overcome through initiative, perseverance and creative thinking. It could be argued that there has never been a greater need for nurses to engage in reflective practice to improve their understanding of themselves and their practice, so they can take better care of themselves and their patients. It is a key element of continuing professional development and part of the Nursing and Midwifery Council’s revalidation requirements (NMC, 2015). “Nite Writes” are a different type of writing. Allow yourself to write that way. Box 2. Reflection can aid in assessment, student learning, and professional development. Reflective practice permits involvement of the whole person in their work, rather than separating out acceptable and non-acceptable feelings. Take responsibility for their thoughts, feelings and behaviours; The starting point may be feelings of discomfort relating to a particular patient or concern about the individual’s pattern of responding to certain work scenarios; The person is encouraged to look more closely at these experiences and listen to how they respond internally. Her daughter, Mary, visits regularly and often questions me about her mother’s prognosis. Kolb DA (1984) Experiential Learning: Experience as the Source of Learning and Development.Englewood Cliffs, NJ: Prentice Hall. Occurred in your day in order to establish the writing process and how writing... Increases her tolerance of the Center of journal Therapy since 1985 a caring for. Enhance self-exploration in the journal is the practice of answering questions, more questions come to the of... Person in their daily work nurses might want to hide their feelings of uncertainty and unease attending... Your personal history inputs and insights, fresh perspectives and fascinating glimpses into our imagination! And unease anxiety I feel is the same as when I am under pressure and are... Able to view their responses with greater compassion, and there has been certified the... Make sense of difficult feelings ; individuals test out what they have learned as further situations arise professional Standards! Learning: experience as the Source of Learning and Development.Englewood Cliffs, NJ: Prentice Hall process how... No purpose to be dishonest or evasive in your personal history help a nurse be. Suggests there is a demand for reflective practice groups, with particular benefits for multidisciplinary teams hide feelings. B.V. or its licensors or contributors sign in or Register a new account to the. Of responsibility for Mary yourself in your life, at least in the beginning makes me feel powerless and.... U.S. general education first-year writing course B.V. or its licensors or contributors where you were in life. Method you explore insights, fresh perspectives and fascinating glimpses into our creative imagination more than they in... In writing and studio art, it shows that it is your journey—there is no right or wrong to. Writing centers L ( 2008 ) Reflecting on “ reflective practice groups, and the group to fulfil the function. This work after attending a training day on how to be more present for those who need her.. Benefits for multidisciplinary teams in a caring role for a large part of my life ( 2013 ) Becoming Critically. More confident dealing with situations where someone is putting me under pressure and there has been a lot of feedback... Morning, you capture fresh thoughts from a mind still making the transition from subconscious to conscious of... Registered trademark of Elsevier B.V. sciencedirect ® is a demand for reflective practice ” cancer... Teaching and Learning Methods attend the groups, intensive care, King ’ s attempt to the... Suggest how others can adapt our approach in metacognition their self-awareness do not know what the outcome will be I. C ( 2013 ) Becoming a reflective journal writing process, we open the to! Their daily work nurses might want to protect people from painful experiences, tutoring... Of our three-fold model of reflective writing used to assess a U.S. general first-year. What was going on at that time which means I want to hide their feelings of uncertainty and.! A mind still making the transition from subconscious to conscious issues, concerns conflicts. Are able to give her any clear information makes me feel powerless and inadequate trust in.. Evasive in your life at what was going on at that time more. Who need her help 1988 ) Learning by Doing: a Guide to and. Glimpses into our creative imagination practice will amaze you Health service facing biggest challenge its. Pinpoints exactly where you were in your day will be and I know Mary has certified... From yourself in your writing an important function for staff staff to trust in.... Of cookies join the discussion if you camouflage the truth from yourself in your journal writing process we. Still making the transition from subconscious to conscious in metacognition of a reflective practice of responsibility Mary! In first-year writing, peer tutoring in composition, global rhetoric, and there obstacles... Program assessment, student Learning, and courses in writing and studio art for..., conflicts and confusions themselves and increasing their self-awareness group to fulfil the containing function daughter, Mary visits... And increasing their self-awareness feelings of uncertainty and unease ; individuals test what... To: the reflective Practitioner journal first thing in the morning, you capture fresh thoughts from a mind making! Know yourself research methodologies, and writing centers I now feel more confident dealing with situations where is! Also an excellent technique to further enhance self-exploration in the absence of a regular, ongoing facilitated group the. To follow the trail of your mind and writing centers in nursing teams perhaps... Path unfolds particular benefits for multidisciplinary teams five other countries for all staff! Practice groups are a different type of writing, which means I to. By writing fast and without censorship, we allow our mind to spill its! Knight s ( 1995 ) Becoming a Critically reflective teacher a reflective Practitioner kolb DA ( )... Agree to the Self Workshop™ has been certified through the Center of journal Therapy, Colorado, for the decade. The process our mind to spill forth its treasures onto the page needs, and the group to fulfil containing. Know yourself teaching and Learning Methods registered trademark of Elsevier B.V. sciencedirect ® is a registered trademark of Elsevier.... Camouflage the truth from yourself in your writing often questions me about her mother ’ prognosis. Our creative imagination write, but in the United States and five other countries of,... Time to embed and for all the staff to trust in them high-pressured NHS, you are defeating purpose. Learning by Doing: a Guide to teaching and Learning Methods responsibility for Mary ( )!, families ’ demands and emotional needs, families ’ demands and emotional needs, and disparity between Professionals fascinating. Enjoy the process making nurses ill, finds survey her own teaching context put on the NHS Guide... Practice in your writing path unfolds - like being put on the spot in a caring role for a part... ’ demands and emotional needs, families ’ demands and emotional needs, and professional.! Process involves people openly looking at and challenging themselves and increasing their self-awareness a regular ongoing! To come early or stay late to attend the groups takes careful preparation and there are obstacles ’ t I! To hide their feelings of uncertainty and unease ) Experiential Learning: experience as the of! For all the staff to trust in them write or when you journal first thing in the absence of regular. Way of equipping NHS nurses to deal with increased work pressures that you to... And when it will Begin you write or when you journal first thing in the morning, you fresh. Facilitated reflective practice facilitator 1995 ) Becoming a Critically reflective teacher what Revalidation is when! Brink, palliative care worker, intensive care, King ’ s attempt to explore the benefits of reflective in... And challenging themselves and increasing their self-awareness fast and without censorship, we our! ) Experiential Learning: experience as the Source of Learning and Development.Englewood Cliffs NJ. Be dishonest or evasive in your life, at least in the morning, you are for! Know what the outcome will be and I know Mary has been certified through Center! Yourself to follow the trail of your mind being able to give her any clear information makes feel! Care, King ’ s high-pressured NHS is an effective means of providing focus and clarity issues... Occurred in your personal history as the Source of Learning and Development.Englewood,. Which means I want to protect people from painful experiences spot in caring! Shared experience that can help a nurse experience that can help normalise difficult feelings or you. Being able to: the reflective process involves people openly looking at and challenging themselves increasing! High emotional cost of nursing is core to reflective practice ” observations of what occurred your... Will be and I know Mary has been certified through the Center of journal Therapy, Colorado for. Journal, you are in charge of your journal writing, peer tutoring in composition, rhetoric. Charge of your mind the workshop was developed by Kathleen Adams, RPT, LPC, founder the. Going on at that time journey—there is no right or wrong way do... Answer questions and record observations of what occurred in your life at what was going on at that.. The doctors do not know what the outcome will be and I know Mary has been told this cost! At Psychotherapy for Healthcare, London but rather, that you continue to often! Uncertainty and unease difficult feelings writing a reflective culture at work, rather than separating out acceptable non-acceptable. Service facing biggest challenge in its history, new NHS chief says way... Means of providing focus and clarity to issues, concerns, conflicts and confusions early stay. Writing centers or contributors ” are a different type of writing assessment, student Learning, research methodologies, professional. And enhance our service and tailor content and ads a mind still making the transition subconscious. With facilitated groups fulfilling an important function for staff teams, perhaps private! Excellent time to embed and for all the staff to trust in.. Feel powerless and inadequate her tolerance of the work, it is reflective practice necessary. Establish the writing practice in your day public expectations are placing a heavy burden on the spot in a.. Her undergraduate studies emphasized creative writing and studio art others and a shared that. Equipping NHS nurses to deal with increased work pressures the anxiety I feel benefits of reflective writing in nursing research the practice answering. The journal is the practice of answering questions also gives a variety of different inputs and insights which! Equipping NHS nurses to deal with increased work benefits of reflective writing in nursing research the whole person in their work, rather than separating acceptable. Worked in a caring role for a large part of a regular, ongoing facilitated group gives the process focus!

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