reflective writing nursing gibbs model

reflective writing nursing gibbs model

Reflective Writing in Nursing Using Gibbs Model

1. Introduction

Reflection is not just recollection; it is an active process of exploring weaknesses and strengths in an experience. Rogers (1990) claimed that reflection can only take place when an individual is able to ‘internalize and depersonalize’ an event. Focusing on an experience, with the view that something can be learned from it, reflection is considered a purposeful activity. The idea of reflective practice is for the practitioner to be present in the moment and through it, describe the event, understand the event, and learn from the event. Reflective practice is based on learning through and from experience towards gaining new insights and changed perceptions of self and practice. It is important to engage with the process of reflection. This will lead to change and development, which can be a positive learning experience and a practice that is integrated with quality. Reasons and goals for reflective practice in the psychiatric area will be identified and critically analyzed.

With the reflection from the experience in social work, it is clear evidence that social work is highly related to psychology, which contributes to human behavior knowledge and skills to understand human problems and also provides systematic help to solve them. This report is to reflect on the experience that I have been through during my in-patient placement in one of the Malaysia government hospitals. I was placed in one of the wards in the hospital, which is the psychiatric ward. It is a place for psychiatric patients to receive treatment from medical professionals, attend counseling sessions, and manage their daily routines and lives. The psychiatric patients have been referred by specialists from private clinics, government health clinics, or other government hospitals.

2. Description of Gibbs Model

The first stage of Gibbs’ Model of Reflection requires a description of the event. My first clinical experience event is accidentally cutting a patient’s right wrist in the Emergency Department. I was on duty for the evening shift at that time. An emergency case came to the ward, a man whom I don’t know, and the nurse requested my help to prepare for a minor surgery operation. I didn’t have any experience before in preparing for surgery operations, and I just knew that we must shave the hair in that place. I thought there was no big deal about the surgery preparation and did not ask for the details of my duty from that nurse. I just took a razor tool and started shaving the hair. When I was concentrating on shaving the hair on the right hand, suddenly I cut the skin on the hand, and I quickly realized that it was the surgery site. I felt surprised and my heart felt very painful. Then I quickly told the patient’s companion about the incident and informed the nurse to prepare the minor operation equipment.

Gibbs (1988) consists of six stages to complete one cycle, which is able to improve my nursing practice continuously and learn from the experience for better practice in the future. Gibbs and another expert believe that reflection is thinking extensively about experiencing in a process of learning, and it is an important phase of the learning process.

3. Application of Gibbs Model in Nursing Reflection

Feelings – Before the arrival of my patient, there is a sense of anticipation with a little sprinkle of anxiety. I have never truly understood his background and what he expected of me. This is well a cross-cultural interaction and I know it could be a little awkward to start. I welcome him into the room and ask him to take a seat. Just as communication is about to open, there is a much unexpected urgent call to a place I have not been before, a situation room where there would be a man with much confusion who would take all my energy and time for the next few weeks. Throughout the whole event, I have to keep track of the patient; I know that this is not a comfortable situation for him.

Description – I have chosen this model because I believe that it is a model that is adequate for my current situation. When I was handed this assignment, I knew it would be a daunting task, not because I did not know how to care for a patient with a particular condition, but because I felt this was the right opportunity to learn more about evidence-based practice that I have heard so much about. This would require me to critically analyze the task at hand and evaluate how I could deliver an improved standard of care. Gibbs’ model begins with the description of the event. This is exactly how one would start any objective. The only issue I found was trying to be absolutely honest. This is a real test of one’s character and often I believe people may BS about performing an objective in hopes of skipping the next stage because it is sometimes too painful to truly reflect on an event. The rest of the model goes on to decode the event and evaluate the rights and wrongs. This is something I will be doing throughout my reflection.

Introduction – This is an overview of the topic I am presenting in my reflection. The topic is using Gibbs reflective cycle to examine practice, skills, and behaviors and to ascertain what I have learned from the experience and the areas for improvement (Ellis, Kenworthy, and Gates, 2003, cited by Hinchliff, 2004).

4. Benefits of Reflective Writing in Nursing

Reflective writing is an effective tool for the aid of critical thinking and learning for students and practitioners alike. Nursing is a profession that encompasses a deal of complex and varied circumstances. This often makes it difficult for a nurse to know if they are using the correct practice or have made a clear and immediate decision. This usually leads to a nurse questioning themselves if they did the correct thing or if there was something else that they could have done instead. This is a true representation of Gibbs’ reflective cycle at work. It is when the nurse recognises that there is an issue, which could be anything from a patient losing their life, to a more simple scenario like missing a vein when attempting to take bloods. After realising that there are feelings of discomfort or regret, the nurse will think about the event that has passed and what has and can be done to improve the situation if it were to occur again. Gibbs reflective cycle is what a nurse will use to reflect on their practice and is described by a series of questions that the practitioner will ask themselves. In doing this the practitioner is able to establish an action plan to which if a similar situation were to arise they have a predetermined solution or approach to it. This of course leads to an increase in knowledge and the continual improvement of the quality of care provided to patients. His model of reflection has allowed the author to analyse his feelings, thoughts, and emotions that have taken place at the time of the event, seeing it what it was clear from any personal bias. From this he has been able to make an attempt to make sense of the situation and interpret it making an impact on his future actions. This final stage is where the author is now, using this as a learning sequence after verbally agreeing with a senior member to remove the ascitic drain and be confident he was placing it in the correct location. By recording his thoughts and having to recall and articulate the event at a later time, this has resulted in a learning sequence and has helped to avoid making a similar mistake in the future. This is the same type of reflection that the nurse using Gibbs model would employ to look back at various events that have taken place in the clinical area. Gibbs’ model is a very simplified model that can help the author scrutinise an event.

5. Conclusion

In conclusion, a reflective essay is a type of academic essay. All you need to know to write a good quality essay is to let the chosen experience sink in. After that, follow the various steps of Gibbs reflective cycle model. Specifically, describe the chosen experience, feelings and thinking, evaluation, analysis where you can find what else you can do for the patient, conclusion, and action plan where the student plans to do the same thing if the situation recurs, or if another situation seems fit to the experience. This will write an essay in the same order. Reflective essay is thought to be an easy but involving and multi-step task. It is a good way to let the students practice their thought capabilities. It allows you to think from a certain experience and be aware of the various aspects of this experience, how you were feeling at that time, and many other things. Once in practice, it really helps when the student goes for a job because nursing is a field where they often have to make big decisions. To sum it all up, a reflective essay is a practice for the finals for a nursing student.