Reflection Assignments

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I was just curious to see if other programs seem to be heavy on the reflective journals and other essays that don't directly pertain to patient care. For instance we have had four reflective journals (why I want to be a nurse, how my assessment skills have changed, what I'm taking with me to next semesters, and a semester reflection) on top of reflections for our outside visits (rehab, nutrition, childcare, adult care). I find these types of writings so annoying. I don't really take anything away from the assignments. It more so feels like I have embellish on feelings and add words to make it to the required number of pages. I think I am getting frustrated because I don't feel like my style of writing meshes well with the assignments. I have traditionally written all of my papers and essays with a thesis and assertion and supporting details. Do the assignments get any better? I would much rather talk about patient care and interventions and actual supporting facts instead of "my expectations and reflections" on whatever subject.

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Nope, have never had to do anything like that. Sorry, it sounds really annoying, I could think of a dozen other things to spend my time on

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Yes we have to do it. And the stupid thing is that we get marked on our opinions of ourselves. What?!? So dumb

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Yes, we have to do them all the time. I don't mind doing them though. Anything is better than doing a care plan!

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I'd rather do the care plan I think. At least I'd learn something

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Specializes in Critical Care, Med-Surg, Psych, Geri, LTC, Tele,.
Yes we have to do it. And the stupid thing is that we get marked on our opinions of ourselves. What?!? So dumb

Grrrr!!! That part would grind my gears. We have a similar weekly eval we give of our own thoughts and the teacher marks us off for our thoughts!! [emoji35]

So for this instructor, I have to put my mind in a place where I write what she wants to hear, and not my own thoughts.....

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Do they decrease in future semesters? I just don't want to have anything to do with them. All the emphasis on "nursing identity" makes me wanna gag.

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I had a teacher that wanted a thesis statement in my reflections. Are you kidding me?

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Specializes in Allergy/ENT, Occ Health, LTC/Skilled.

omg that would annoy the crap out of me. At least if you want to have a heavy course work class, let's do something to further our nursing knowledge. I want to reflect on why some professors think those crap reflections actually do anything for me lol. I have the same problem as you, I just feel like I am re-wording the same thought over and over again. I haven't had this for nursing classes but my English teacher was always asking us to reflect each class in our journal. Lady, I have three kids, I work, haven't ate dinner, its 9 pm, I want to go home, eat dinner, and watch Grey's. Reflect on that.

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omg that would annoy the crap out of me. At least if you want to have a heavy course work class, let's do something to further our nursing knowledge. I want to reflect on why some professors think those crap reflections actually do anything for me lol. I have the same problem as you, I just feel like I am re-wording the same thought over and over again. I haven't had this for nursing classes but my English teacher was always asking us to reflect each class in our journal. Lady, I have three kids, I work, haven't ate dinner, its 9 pm, I want to go home, eat dinner, and watch Grey's. Reflect on that.

Amen! I just don't see how they are beneficial.

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Specializes in Psychiatry, Community, Nurse Manager, hospice.

Yup, I've had to do it. It's more annoying when it doesn't apply to anything. If you can make it apply, it takes the sting out.

I try to use the reflection as a time to go over what I think my strengths and weaknesses are and how I can address my weaknesses, and set up the experiences I need to have to get more competence. Then I feel better about writing my reflection.

I don't have to write them for most assignments though and I think that is key. There's only so much self reflection anyone can do, you need to have experiences to reflect on also!

Time is precious. Try to make the reflection work for you so it doesn't waste your time.

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