Reflective Journaling for Nursing Students: Guide
Modern academic trends aim to form critical thinking and the desire to say no to mistakes through self-analysis and documentation of events. For example, you can keep a journal of your seminars and reflect on what you did wrong. In addition, such a paper is ideal for avoiding emotional overload. In other words, all reflective journal samples are a practice springboard for self-control and analysis of the experience gained.
What Is a Reflective Journal in Nursing?
A reflective journal in nursing is a personal record or diary where nurses can document their experiences, thoughts, and emotions related to their clinical practice. Reflective journal writing provides a space for nurses to reflect on their actions and decisions, evaluate their performance, and identify areas for improvement and ideas to fix.
What is Reflective Journaling?
Reflective journaling is an essential tool for nursing education and professional development as writing can help nurses to develop critical thinking skills, improve their self-awareness, and enhance their ability to provide quality care. By reflecting on their experiences, nurses can learn from their successes and failures and identify growth opportunities.
A reflective journal in nursing typically includes details about patient interactions, clinical procedures, ethical dilemmas, and personal and professional challenges. It may also include reflections on how the nurse's experiences relate to nursing theory and research, as well as their personal values and beliefs.
Reflective Journaling Format
Reflective journaling can be done in various formats, including handwritten notes, electronic documents, or online blogs. Nurses need to ensure that their journal entries maintain patient confidentiality and adhere to ethical and professional standards.
Reflective Model Guides
Atkins and Murphy Model
This writing model is quite simple for first-year students and consists of five key elements: awareness, description, analysis, evaluation, and identification. Here is a nursing clinical journal sample that will help you get the gist.
- I used an Esmarch tourniquet to stop the bleeding during the night shift, and it didn't work. The reason is the deformed part of the tourniquet, which broke. I could have stopped the bleeding more effectively if I had used a modern corset brace.
As you can see, this academic model is not very difficult, especially if you know the key rules. Try to follow five key elements while paper crafting.
Brookfield Reflective Model
If you have to use this model, then you will have to rely on four pillars: your opinion and experience, the point of view of students, your colleagues, and theoretical literature. These key elements will help you transpose your thoughts into the academic arena. Here is a nursing reflection paper example to help you get the point.
- I consulted an allergy sufferer and relied on the experience that I received several years ago. My current knowledge and the opinion of colleagues and students allowed me to recommend an experimental stress relief rehabilitation technique. Thanks to the found academic sources, I was once again convinced that my strategy was correct.
In other words, your academic reflection is a path to truth that has passed through four key stages. But do not forget that your experience and current skills play no less a role than the crowd's opinion.
Driscoll Model of Reflection
And here is one of the simplest models that help students reflect and describe their experiences. Its essence lies in three questions, "What? So what? Now what?" Here is a reflective journal template that will allow you to understand the essence of such trigger questions and answers.
- I used humor therapy to calm the patient. After a couple of jokes, my patient began to laugh and was able to disengage from postoperative pain. Now I know that the brain can reduce pain by switching to a new emotional trigger.
As you can see, nothing is easier than describing the event, its significance, and the experience you can use in the future. Stick to the three key questions, and you will surely stand out from the crowd.
Gibbs Reflective Cycle
Gibbs has created a good cyclic model consisting of six main elements: description, feelings, evaluation, analysis, conclusion, and action plan. This approach helps students analyze their actions and adopt the correct academic strategy. Here is a clinical reflective journal nursing example to understand the details.
- Today I gave an injection to a patient for the first time. Perhaps I pressed too hard on the vein, and a hematoma appeared. I should tilt the syringe at a lower angle and not apply as much force. Part of my mistake was due to excitement. But now I know how I will inject next time.
As you can see, the six points allow you to accurately analyze any situation and take action to improve the result. Any student can use this model to achieve good academic results.
Johns Model of Reflection
This model is aimed at analyzing specific events. To use the key reflective triggers, you should analyze any situation that is important to you. What did you do, and what were your emotions? What is your result, and how did other people feel? What influenced your actions? What was the reason for your actions, and what was the result? Could you have done something differently? A nurse's reflective journal example will help you understand this method's gist.
- Yesterday I interviewed the patient for additional symptoms. I'm tired and forgot to ask a couple of questions. As a result, the doctor did not order all the tests, and we spent two more days identifying the disease. I think that I acted unprofessionally. Now, I will be more careful not to allow such oversights.
As you can see, nothing is easier than following all the points. Surely you can craft your paper based on the information received. But try to focus not only on emotions but also on your goals.
Kolb's Learning Cycle
David Kolb has created a good cycle model that helps students make new, more informed decisions based on experience. First, you need to focus on your experience, make a reflective observation, conceptualize the problem and try to experiment. Here is one of the simplest student nurse reflection examples that will allow you to understand the essence of this cyclic model.
- I organized the medical records and made the mistake of confusing the catalogs. This oversight led to the fact that I spent two more hours sorting folders. Perhaps I should have sorted the cards alphabetically to avoid such chaos. Perhaps I will even pre-sort the files into sections and several categories.
As you can see, there is nothing difficult in following specific goals and a cyclical structure. You must take time and carefully evaluate your experience without emotional context.
Pender's Health Promotion Model
Pender has created a simple yet effective approach to crafting reflective papers based on three pillars: individual experiences, behavior-specific cognitions, and behavioral outcomes. But you should start with reflective journal template nursing. Surely this approach will help you understand the essence of your assignment.
- I have analyzed dozens of case histories and think how to organize files. My experience and emotional stability help me do my job quickly. At the same time, I am open to new nursing techniques related to paperwork. My behavioral approach allows me to adapt to the new nuances of my work.
As you can see, there is nothing critical, especially when it comes to your experience. Pender argues that such a model should not be based on stereotypes, and nurses should be more self-critical regarding patients.
Rolfe Reflective Model
Rolfe decided to follow the path of a perfectionist sculptor, not afraid to crush a pile of stones to create the perfect statue. His approach is based on three questions, "What? So what? Now what?" Here is one of the simplest nursing student journal entry examples for those who don't know where to start.
- I helped the patient cope with stress by asking questions about his childhood. This trick showed me that people could ignore any problems or pain if you divert their attention. Now I will use similar psychological tricks to help patients calm down.
In general, such a model is quite simple since it does not require a long description of dozens of parameters. Answer three questions, and you won't have to worry about your assignments.
Roper Logan and Tierney
This reflective model is intended for nurses who want to monitor the condition of patients comprehensively and respond in time to any changes. So the analysis is based on 12 factors:
- Maintaining a safe environment.
- Communication.
- Breathing.
- Eating and drinking.
- Elimination.
- Washing and dressing.
- Controlling temperature.
- Mobilization.
- Working and playing.
- Expressing sexuality.
- Sleeping.
- Death.
Also, nurses should analyze biological, psychological, socio-cultural, and even politico-economic factors to assess patients' condition and competence. You should use this journaling nursing approach if you want to study everything related to advanced medical assistance in detail.
Schon Reflective Model
According to Schon's model, nurses should be guided by two approaches: reflection in action and reflection on action. In the first case, you should analyze the situation, structure your actions and get to work immediately. The second approach is slightly different, so that you may need nursing student reflective journal samples. Focus on a specific case: reconsider the situation and think about the aspects you want to change in the future.
Why Is Reflective Writing Important in Nursing?
And here is the key question that is relevant for most modern students from the college of nursing. Surely you often ask professors, "Why reflective journals nursing? What is special about this type of assignment?" Here are four undeniable advantages of the academic approach.
- Deeper and longer-lasting learning is the first nuance since you can concentrate on many topic details and analyze data from different angles.
- It also opens a conversation between you and your instructor. A mutual exchange of arguments and approaches to nursing will help you learn more about your future profession and journey to nursing practice.
- It helps you learn about concepts instead of just facts. Sometimes a different approach is needed for those who believe that theory is enough to carry out the daily nursing routine.
- Your self-reflection is important for evaluating different situations, approaches to healthcare activities, and behavioral factors. In other words, your world will change as long as you are open to alternative points of view.
That is why reflective journaling for nursing students is so important. But you should know all the stages of writing before you actively analyze and comprehend professional techniques.
How to Write a Reflective Journal
As a rule, you will have to concentrate on the factors before your experience during a certain action. Reflection is based on those emotions, knowledge, and experience that you will receive during the performance of any nursing activity. Perhaps you should even look at some reflective journal nursing example sets to understand how to describe your thoughts and experimental results.
How to Structure a Reflective Journal
In most cases, your paper will have three parts: intro, body, and conclusion. The first piece of data should be a short description of your nursing processes. Next, you should concentrate on your feelings and evaluation processes. Analyze all the data you received and summarize. By the way, all your notes should be in chronological order so your professor can see the logical structure and progress.
Example
Let's discuss the importance of even one sample reflection paper for nursing student circles. Here is an example that will allow you to understand the essence of your actions.
- Description. What is going on?
- Feelings. How did I feel at the start?
- Evaluation. What was right for me?
- Analysis. How can I make sense of the situation?
- Conclusion. What else can I do?
As you can see, such an example with simple questions will help you not get stuck in one place and craft your paper quickly.
How Do You Start a Reflection in Nursing?
First, you should concentrate on choosing your topic, experience, and reflection method. You must also start with your first body paragraph, analyzing the key cases. This approach is the most logical for most students.
Example
Here is an example that will allow you to reduce the time to start your paper.
- I often interview patients and write down the important nuances of their psychological state. That is why I decided to add a few key questions that could reduce the likelihood of false answers.
As you can see, first sentences play a key role in understanding your goals and key experiences.
Nursing Reflective Journal Topic Examples
You'll probably want to start with good examples, so here are four topics to help you stand out from the crowd.
- Describe the impact of empathy on rehabilitation time.
- Concentrate on the psychological patterns that affect the well-being of patients.
- When did you first inject, and was your experience successful?
- Do you make independent decisions while performing your job duties?
You won't have to think long about your topic with examples like this. Choose any option and concentrate on the crafting process.