Structured Reflective Analysis

This assignment, by employing a structured reflective approach, will appraise my management experience whilst on clinical placement and examine how this has helped to shape my professional practice. Reflection maybe defined a process in which a nurse may learn, appreciate and improve their practice (Rolfe 2001). Having the ability to reflect on actions within clinical practice is important proposes that a reflective model enables learning whilst utilising experiential knowledge from previous reflections. Reflection may also be seen as a reviewing process of an experience that examines, describes, evaluates and informs learning (Reid 1993). The model that will be used to reflect is known as Gibbs’ reflective model (Gibbs 1988). This reflective cycle includes the following steps: description, feelings, evaluation, analysis, conclusion and an action plan. This sequence permits a structured framework in order to explore and examine any given experience Jasper (2003). Each stage of the structured model is used to help guide the
Clark (2009) described management as organising, controlling, directing, planning and staffing in order to obtain targets. Management also involves good decision making, communicating efficiently, motivational skills, powers of persuasion and being sensitive to staff needs (Manion, 2005). During my management day I tried to attain these attributes to a competent level. For example, when delegating the primary nursing role I took into account each particular staff members' experience of the patients who were on the ward that day. If a nurse had a good relationship with a particular patient I assigned her as that patients primary nurse. If the converse was found to be true then I would seek out another caseload for that particular nurse. Astute management requires knowledge of staffs' skills, attributes and experiences and is essential in delivering high standards of care. (Hewison