Journal help...

My instructors usually wanted a couple of paragraphs on what you did that clinical, what you feel you learned, and how it made you feel. For ex., do you feel you benefitted from the experience? What could have made it better? Be honest, too, if you're feeling frustrated about something or want to say that you wish things were a different way. For ex., if you were asked to do a dressing change, did it go okay? Were you able to find all of your supplies? Did you feel you had good patient interaction? Just kind of sum up your shift and how you felt about everything. Hope this helps.

Purpose: Reflect on your clinical experience, for the purpose of improving competence levels, by developing an awareness of clinical decision making.

Process:

1. Write behavioral objectives prior to each clinical day.

2. How were the objectives met? Provide rationale.

3. Comments regarding objectives & day.

4. Record your feelings, perceptions, & frustrations. Was the situation handled appropriately? Could it have been handled differently? If you were in the same situation again, would you respond in the same manner?

5. Include critical thinking strategies you implemented.

6. Identify ways to improve your critical thinking.

I don't divide my journal entries into numbered sections, I just try to cover each of the points in my entry. Most days it's a couple of paragraphs, occasionally on a particularly interesting day, a full page.