The Power of Reflective Practice

hoolahan, ASN, RN · Mar 16, 2002

micro, I don't think you are wrong at all. It is just common sense.

My first impression of this conversation was that it is sad when there actually has to be a label put on this behavior, in order to remind supervisors of their role, or to try to teach someone common sense. This is something all experienced nurses and supervisors should do everyday! It is really acting as a mentor. We should all be mentors to each other. But I do realize nursing, in its ongoing struggle to prove itself as its own science must give labels to these things to be taken seriously in the land of academia.

We call it praxis in the US? (Fergus, I can't remember if you are from US or Canada, forgive my memeory lapses!) I never even heard of praxis, can't say I'm too upset about that though.

fergus51 · Mar 16, 2002

I am from Canada. My program called it praxis and critical thinking. (Just means examine what you did and why).:) You aren't missing out a bit;)

live4today, RN · Mar 17, 2002

FERGUS, I LEARNED 'PRAXIS' FROM MY PARENTS AND SCHOOL TEACHERS FROM AS FAR BACK AS AGE FOUR. IMAGINE THAT...NO COLLEGE EDUCATION PREPARED THIS WOMAN FOR THE WORLD, MY ENVIRONMENT AND THE PEOPLE IN IT DID.

fergus51 · Mar 17, 2002

Oh me too Renee. I hated the idea of praxis in school because I called it common sense.... But my liscensing body calls it praxis, so I humbly submit...

live4today, RN · Mar 17, 2002

Gotcha, fergus! Nighty-night! I'm too pooped to pop any longer. Mr. Sandman is calling me softly. Yawn!!! :zzzzz s

Q. · Mar 17, 2002

Reflective practice, as it sounds here, does sound like clinical logs or a behavior of "metacognition", as the Cognitivisits like to say. Thing is, nursing schools are used to the standard curricula, like care plan writing etc (the tried and true methods) even though ideas like this existed for quite some time. When these theories were first published widespread with this label on it, it was only in the early 60's. It's roots however come from Kant and existentialism.

sargent · Mar 18, 2002

Yes, there are a lot of academic labels out there. And yes you are right, it should be just common sense. But don't you think that common sense is LEARNT?

You are not born with common sense, you build it up from experience and knowledge passed on by your elders/ peers.

I disagree that nurses are already doing it! (maybe they are in the US but certainly not here in the UK.

Some nurses implicitly use reflective practice, without knowing. You can always recognise them, they are usually the ones who develop at a very high rate. They learn from there experiences. They have the skilss and honesty to look back at there practice and decide which parts of it work well and which could be improved.

Then there are those who do not use it at all. These ones are usually the ones who make the same mistakes over and over again.

Research has shown that pilots in the RAF who used reflective practice following WWII were responsible for fewer mistakes in action.

Makes you think!

Thanks for the relpies so far

Andrew

mattsmom81 · Mar 18, 2002

"A rose by any other name..." Yes, academia renames and then 'owns' yet another tried and true method! LOL!

Although the term itself is new to me I certainly agree with and understand the concept.

As senior nurse, charge nurse, resource or supervisor it is imperative we facilitate reflective practice, and it is a cornerstone of team nursing. In team nursing the leader runs pre- shift report and post shift 'debriefing'...I also tried to do this following codes, emergency situation, and shift's end if possible (particularly a hectic, crazy one).... especially if I'm working with rookies or nurses I don't know well.

One on one mentorship is fine, reflection of a small group/team is a more inclusive, dynamic way to learn and grow. In school I recall ending every clinical day in this way---we also had 'teams' of students of all levels and met once a week to reflect on our collective nursing experiences. Our instructors facilitated initially, then we students took turns as 'leader'. I guess our 'QA/ QM' is another buzzword that springs from this concept too.

Interesting points, Andrew! :)

live4today, RN · Mar 18, 2002

My own personal belief is that "common sense" is "innate" and not acquired from any other source. I have a lot of common sense, but I cannot attribute my having it to anyone in my life, not even my parents. To me, you either have it, or you don't.

semstr · Mar 19, 2002

Yes, we call it reflective practice too (Tracy we call it reflektion Praxis, LOL).

We had a new nursing law in 1997 and now(!!!!!) the new reflexionmaps, also skills- und goalmaps for our students are ready.

It was a lot of work to change the whole system, since this is for the whole of Austria, and of course the European Union has got their message in it too.

It all looks pretty professional and very well set up, but.................. who on earth has got the time on the ward, to sit down with a student and reflect through a 65 pages map?

Of course when the clinical teacher is there, it won't be such a problem, or when we as educators go to the wards with our students. But that's not the case in every day nursing.

So yes, reflectiv practice is good (Benner must be happy, this map is according to her theories novice...........), but the big problem I see is time and entitled personel to reflect with the students.

Take care, Renee

PS: SuzyK, I can't imagine, good old Immanuel would be happy with this! LOL