Reflection on my nursing experience Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1250 words

Reflection on my nursing experience - Essay Example The first stage of the Gibbs Reflective Cycle makes an individual describe the whole situation so that he/she may be able to analyze the consequential feelings in the second stage. In the third stage, the individual evaluates his/her experience, and organizes his/her analysis in the fourth stage so as to have a logical interpretation of it. In the fifth stage, the individual works out alternative solutions to the problem, and chooses the most viable option for use in the future. In the sixth stage, which is the last stage of the Gibbs Reflective Cycle, the individual makes action plan according to which he/she would work in the future in similar circumstances (Jasper). To reflect upon one’s experiences is an extremely useful and beneficial practice if one wants to rationalize one’s approach in the future matters. In the capacity of being a human, everybody commits mistakes. To do mistakes is not a mistake, though if one does not learn from one’s mistakes, it is i n itself the biggest mistake! Reflection upon past experiences provides one with an opportunity to see where one went wrong so that the unfavorable consequences would not have to be faced ever again (Lewis). For professionals, this practice adds to their knowledge, and enables them to adjust to unusual situations in life with least inconvenience. This practice also inculcates self esteem in an individual so that he/she is able to deliver his/her best in the profession. Besides, this is a process of self education. The self analysis an individual does while reflecting upon the past experiences allows him/her to have an interview of the self. It is essentially introspection (Cyprus). It enhances a nurse’s practice competence (Lenburg). â€Å"The goal of any therapeutic alliance †¦ is to facilitate the emergence of the authentic self† (Freshwater 4). This practice is conducive for making one a better human being both for one’s self and for the society. The goa l of conducting this reflection for me is to improve my therapeutic relationship with patients being a nurse. Therapeutic relationship with patients is controlled by a nurse’s interpersonal skills. Both verbal and body language play a role in it. I hereby choose to reflect upon my experience with Mr. X who suffers from brain tumor. In those days, I was placed in the surgical ward for two weeks in the third semester. One day, all patients moved towards the cafeteria for lunch except for Mr. X. He was lost in some thoughts. I approached him, and asked his permission to help him. He could not understand my language because he had a different language. I wanted to feed him. I used eating gestures to deliver my message. According to Hill and Howlett (69), an individual should work out the most rational option which is consistent with the desired result in order to be successful as a nurse. Understanding my body language, he nodded. I checked his diet schedule and fed him according ly. Cherry and Jacob (400) consider body language a strong means of conveyance of messages to the patients. While feeding him, I looked him in the eyes so that he would know that I am doing my job whole heartedly. Eye contact with the patient conveys a nurse’s sincerity, honesty and truth of emotions to the patient that is conducive for the building up of sound rapport between the two (Faulkner 92). However, it is important to break eye contact sensibly and with careful judgment so as to keep it from