How Reflection Helped this Student Nurse Reflect on Their Experiences
As a student nurse, I have had some difficult experiences over the course of my studies. The clinical environment can be a challenging one, and it can be difficult to find time to take stock of the experiences I have had. Reflection has helped me to gain insights about these experiences, and to look back at the lessons I have learned.
At the start of each placement, I have tried to make an effort to take a few moments to reflect on my experiences. It has been helpful to write down my thoughts and feelings, and to think about what I have seen and done. This reflection has helped me to stay connected to my experiences and to gain some insights from them.
For example, I was on a placement in an aged care facility and was feeling overwhelmed by the amount of work I had to do. Taking time to reflect on this experience helped me to realize that I needed to take a step back and focus on the tasks I was doing, rather than worrying about the bigger picture. This helped me to gain the confidence I needed to get through the placement.
I have also used reflection to look back at my experiences and to identify areas where I need to improve. For example, on a recent placement, I noticed that my communication skills needed some work. Taking time to reflect on this gave me the opportunity to think about what I could do differently in the future. I was able to make a plan of action to improve my communication skills, which I am now seeing the benefit of.
Reflection has been an invaluable tool for me as a student nurse. It has helped me to gain some insights from my experiences, and to think about what I could have done differently. It has also been a great way to stay connected to my experiences and to ensure that I am learning from them. I am now looking forward to using reflection in the future to continue to develop my skills as a nurse.