Student Nurse Reflection Guide and Examples

A student nurse reflection is a thoughtful process where nursing students analyze their clinical experiences, personal growth, and professional development throughout their nursing education. This practice involves critically examining one’s actions, thoughts, and emotions during patient care encounters, clinical placements, and other nursing-related activities. By engaging in reflection, nursing students can gain valuable insights into their strengths, areas for improvement, and overall progress in becoming competent registered nurses.

Reflections typically take the form of written essays, journal entries, or structured discussions with peers and instructors. These exercises encourage nursing students to connect theoretical knowledge with practical experiences, fostering a deeper understanding of the nursing profession and their role within it.

reflective essay student nurse

Table of Contents

Understanding Nurse Reflection in Nursing School

In nursing school, reflection is an integral part of the learning process. It serves as a bridge between classroom theory and clinical practice, allowing students to make sense of their experiences and apply their knowledge in real-world situations. Nursing students are often required to engage in reflective activities throughout their education, which may include:

  • Writing reflective essays after clinical rotations
  • Maintaining a reflection journal throughout the nursing program
  • Participating in group reflections with peers and instructors
  • Completing self-assessment exercises to track personal and professional growth

These reflective practices help nursing students develop critical thinking skills, enhance their clinical judgment, and cultivate a patient-centered approach to care. By regularly reflecting on their experiences, students can identify patterns in their behavior, recognize areas where they excel, and pinpoint aspects of their practice that need improvement.

The Importance of Reflection on Clinical Experience

Reflection on clinical experience is crucial for nursing students as it allows them to:

  • Process complex emotions: Clinical settings can be emotionally challenging, and reflection provides a safe space for students to explore and understand their feelings.
  • Identify knowledge gaps: By analyzing their actions during patient care, students can recognize areas where they need to expand their knowledge or skills.
  • Develop cultural competence: Reflecting on interactions with diverse patient populations helps students become more culturally sensitive and aware.
  • Enhance critical thinking: Analyzing clinical situations from multiple perspectives sharpens students’ ability to make sound decisions in future encounters.
  • Improve patient care: By reflecting on past experiences, students can develop strategies to provide better care in similar situations.

Example: A nursing student reflects on a challenging patient interaction during their mental health nursing rotation:

“During my clinical placement in the psychiatric unit, I encountered a patient experiencing acute psychosis. Initially, I felt overwhelmed and unsure of how to approach the situation. Reflecting on this experience, I realize that my discomfort stemmed from a lack of confidence in my communication skills with patients in crisis. Moving forward, I plan to seek additional training in therapeutic communication techniques and practice role-playing scenarios with my peers to better prepare for similar situations in the future.”

How to Approach Your Reflection Journal as a Nursing Student

Approaching your reflection journal as a nursing student requires consistency, honesty, and a willingness to explore your thoughts and feelings deeply. Here are some tips to help you make the most of your reflection journal:

  • Set a regular schedule: Dedicate time each day or week to write in your journal, ensuring that reflection becomes a habit.
  • Use a structured format: Consider using a reflection model like Gibbs’ Reflective Cycle to guide your entries and ensure comprehensive analysis.
  • Be specific: Focus on particular events or experiences rather than general observations.
  • Include both positive and negative experiences: Reflect on successes as well as challenges to gain a balanced perspective.
  • Connect theory to practice: Relate your experiences to nursing concepts and theories learned in class.
  • Ask yourself probing questions: Use prompts like “What could I have done differently?” or “How did this experience change my perspective on nursing?”
  • Document your growth: Periodically review past entries to track your progress and identify recurring themes.
  • Be honest and vulnerable: Don’t shy away from acknowledging mistakes or areas where you struggle.
  • Maintain patient confidentiality: Use pseudonyms or general descriptions when discussing patient care experiences.
  • Seek feedback: Share selected entries with instructors or peers to gain additional insights and perspectives.

Why is Reflective Practice Important for Student Nurses?

Reflective practice is essential for student nurses as it contributes significantly to their personal and professional development. Here are several key reasons why reflective practice is crucial:

Enhancing Clinical Skills Through Self-Reflection

Self-reflection allows nursing students to critically analyze their clinical skills and identify areas for improvement. By examining their performance in various clinical situations, students can:

  • Recognize patterns in their decision-making processes
  • Identify strengths and weaknesses in their technical skills
  • Develop strategies to enhance their clinical competence
  • Learn from both successes and mistakes

Example: A nursing student reflects on their experience taking vital signs:

“During today’s clinical rotation, I realized that I was consistently recording blood pressure readings higher than those obtained by my clinical instructor. Through reflection, I identified that my technique for positioning the patient’s arm was incorrect. I plan to practice proper positioning and technique to improve the accuracy of my vital sign measurements.”

Developing Communication Skills in Clinical Settings

Effective communication is paramount in nursing, and reflective practice provides an opportunity for students to hone these skills. By reflecting on their interactions with patients, families, and healthcare team members, nursing students can:

  • Analyze the effectiveness of their communication strategies
  • Identify barriers to clear and compassionate communication
  • Develop empathy and cultural sensitivity
  • Improve their ability to convey complex medical information to patients

Reflection as a Tool for Personal and Professional Growth

Reflective practice serves as a catalyst for ongoing personal and professional development. It encourages nursing students to:

  • Cultivate self-awareness and emotional intelligence
  • Align their actions with professional values and ethics
  • Develop resilience and coping strategies for challenging situations
  • Set meaningful goals for their nursing career

By engaging in regular reflection, nursing students can cultivate a growth mindset and become lifelong learners in their profession.

How to Write a Reflective Essay as a Nursing Student?

Writing a reflective essay as a nursing student requires a structured approach that combines personal experience with academic analysis. Follow these steps to create a compelling reflective essay:

Key Components of a Nursing Student Reflection Essay

  • Introduction: Briefly describe the experience or event you’re reflecting on and its significance to your nursing education.
  • Description: Provide a detailed account of the situation, including relevant context and your role in the event.
  • Feelings and Thoughts: Explore your emotional and cognitive responses to the experience.
  • Evaluation: Analyze what went well and what could have been improved in the situation.
  • Analysis: Connect your experience to nursing theories, concepts, or best practices learned in your coursework.
  • Conclusion: Summarize the key insights gained from the reflection and how they will inform your future nursing practice.
  • Action Plan: Outline specific steps you’ll take to apply what you’ve learned in future clinical situations.

Examples of Reflection on Clinical Experiences

Here’s a brief example of a reflection on a clinical experience:

“During my second clinical placement in the pediatric ward, I encountered a challenging situation while administering medication to a 5-year-old patient. The child was visibly anxious and refused to take the oral medication. Initially, I felt frustrated and unsure of how to proceed. Reflecting on this experience, I realize that I could have better prepared for potential resistance by discussing age-appropriate strategies with my clinical instructor beforehand.

In analyzing the situation, I recognize that my approach lacked creativity and sensitivity to the child’s fears. Moving forward, I plan to expand my knowledge of pediatric care techniques and practice using distraction methods to make medication administration less stressful for young patients. This experience has highlighted the importance of adaptability and patient-centered care in nursing practice.”

Tips for Effective Writing in Nursing Education

  • Use clear, concise language
  • Incorporate relevant nursing terminology
  • Support your reflections with specific examples
  • Maintain a professional tone while expressing personal insights
  • Use proper citation methods when referencing nursing literature or theories
  • Proofread carefully to ensure accuracy and clarity

What Are the Best Practices for Reflection During Clinical Placements?

Reflection during clinical placements is a valuable tool for nursing students to maximize their learning experiences. Here are some best practices to consider:

Integrating Patient Care Experiences into Reflection

  • Focus on significant events: Choose experiences that had a strong impact on your learning or emotions.
  • Consider the patient’s perspective: Reflect on how your actions affected the patient’s care and well-being.
  • Analyze your decision-making process: Examine the rationale behind your choices in patient care situations.
  • Explore ethical considerations: Reflect on any ethical dilemmas or challenges you encountered during patient care.

Using Clinical Observation for Deeper Insights

  • Observe experienced nurses: Reflect on the techniques and approaches used by registered nurses and clinical instructors.
  • Analyze team dynamics: Consider how different healthcare team members collaborate to provide patient care.
  • Reflect on the healthcare environment: Consider how the clinical setting influences patient care and nursing practice.
  • Observe patient-nurse interactions: Analyze communication styles and their impact on patient outcomes.

Creating a Reflection Journal for Nursing Practice

  • Use a consistent format: Develop a template or structure for your journal entries to ensure comprehensive reflection.
  • Set reflection goals: Identify specific aspects of your nursing practice you want to focus on during each clinical placement.
  • Include both objective and subjective information : Record factual details as well as your personal thoughts and feelings.
  • Maintain confidentiality: Use pseudonyms or general descriptions to protect patient privacy.
  • Review and analyze: Regularly review your journal entries to identify patterns and track your progress over time.

How to Use Reflections to Improve Nursing Skills?

Reflections can be a powerful tool for enhancing nursing skills when used strategically. Here are some ways to leverage your reflections for skill improvement:

Identifying Areas for Improvement in Nursing Practice

  • Conduct a self-assessment: Use your reflections to honestly evaluate your strengths and weaknesses in various nursing competencies.
  • Seek feedback: Compare your self-assessment with feedback from clinical instructors and peers to gain a well-rounded perspective.
  • Set SMART goals: Based on your reflections, establish Specific, Measurable, Achievable, Relevant, and Time-bound goals for skill improvement.
  • Create a skill development plan: Outline specific actions you’ll take to address identified areas for improvement.

Applying Reflective Insights to Future Clinical Rotations

  • Review past reflections: Before each new clinical rotation, review relevant reflections from previous experiences to inform your approach.
  • Implement learned strategies: Apply insights and techniques developed through reflection to similar situations in new clinical settings.
  • Monitor progress: Continuously reflect on your performance to track improvements and identify ongoing challenges.
  • Adjust your approach: Use reflective insights to adapt your nursing practice as you gain more experience and encounter diverse patient populations.

Building a Strong Nursing Career Through Reflection

  • Develop a reflective mindset: Cultivate the habit of regularly reflecting on your nursing practice throughout your career.
  • Engage in peer reflection: Participate in reflective discussions with colleagues to gain new perspectives and share insights.
  • Use reflection for professional development: Identify areas for further education or specialization based on your reflective insights.
  • Contribute to nursing knowledge: Consider sharing your reflective experiences through nursing publications or presentations to benefit the wider nursing community.

What Challenges Do Nursing Students Face in Reflection?

While reflection is a valuable tool for nursing students, it can also present several challenges:

Overcoming Barriers to Effective Self-Reflection

  • Time constraints: Balancing reflection with academic and clinical responsibilities can be challenging. Set aside dedicated time for reflection and integrate it into your daily routine.
  • Discomfort with self-criticism: Some students may find it difficult to critically analyze their own performance. Focus on the learning opportunity rather than dwelling on perceived failures.
  • Lack of structure: Without guidance, reflections may lack depth or focus. Use reflective models or prompts to guide your thinking and ensure comprehensive analysis.
  • Fear of judgment: Students may worry about sharing personal thoughts or mistakes. Remember that reflection is a tool for growth, not evaluation.
  • Difficulty connecting theory to practice: Bridging the gap between classroom learning and clinical experiences can be challenging. Actively seek connections and ask for guidance from instructors when needed.

How to Stay Motivated in Your Reflection Journey

  • Set reflection goals: Establish clear objectives for your reflective practice to maintain focus and purpose.
  • Celebrate progress: Acknowledge improvements and insights gained through reflection to stay motivated.
  • Join a reflection group: Engage with peers in reflective discussions to share experiences and gain new perspectives.
  • Vary your reflection methods: Experiment with different reflection techniques (e.g., journaling, mind mapping, audio recordings) to keep the process engaging.
  • Connect reflection to career aspirations: Understand how reflective practice contributes to your long-term goals as a nurse.

Seeking Support from Peers and Instructors

  • Participate in group reflections: Engage in structured reflection sessions with classmates to gain diverse perspectives.
  • Schedule meetings with clinical instructors: Discuss your reflections and seek guidance on areas for improvement.
  • Utilize academic support services: Take advantage of writing centers or tutoring services to enhance your reflective writing skills.
  • Join nursing student associations: Connect with peers who can offer support and share their own reflective experiences.
  • Seek mentorship: Develop relationships with experienced nurses who can provide insights and guidance based on their own reflective practices.

Related article; Reflections on my Nursing Journey

FAQs on Student Nurse Reflection

How to write a reflection for a nursing student.

To write a reflection as a nursing student, start by describing a specific clinical experience or event. Analyze your thoughts, feelings, and actions during the situation. Evaluate what went well and what could be improved. Connect your experience to nursing theories or concepts learned in class. Conclude by outlining how this reflection will inform your future nursing practice.

What is an example of reflection in nursing?

An example of reflection in nursing could be: “During my clinical rotation in the emergency department, I observed a nurse skillfully de-escalate a situation with an agitated patient. Reflecting on this experience, I realized the importance of maintaining a calm demeanor and using therapeutic communication techniques in high-stress situations. I plan to practice these skills to improve my ability to handle similar scenarios in the future.”

What I learned as a student nurse?

As a student nurse, you might learn various skills and insights, such as:

  • The importance of effective communication with patients and healthcare team members
  • How to perform basic nursing procedures and assessments
  • The value of evidence-based practice in providing quality patient care
  • The significance of cultural competence in healthcare
  • Time management and prioritization skills in a clinical setting
  • The emotional aspects of nursing and the importance of self-care

What are some examples of student feedback for nursing students?

Examples of student feedback for nursing students might include:

  • “Your patient assessment skills have improved significantly since your last clinical rotation.”
  • “Consider practicing your IV insertion technique to increase your confidence and accuracy.”
  • “Your communication with patients is excellent, but try to be more assertive when collaborating with other healthcare team members.”
  • “Your documentation is thorough, but work on being more concise while maintaining important details.”
  • “You showed great empathy when dealing with the distressed family member. Keep developing this important skill.”

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Writing Reflective Essays for Nursing Students

Reflective writing is essential for nurses as it allows them to analyze their experiences, thoughts, and emotions to improve their practice. A nursing reflective essay requires the writer to reflect on a particular experience and explore how it has impacted their personal and professional growth. In nursing and midwifery, reflective essays are often used for self-reflection and self-improvement.

What Is a Reflective Essay?

A reflective essay is a piece of writing that explores a particular experience or event and reflects on its significance. The purpose of a reflective essay is to encourage the writer to think critically about their experiences and to analyze how those experiences have shaped their personal and professional growth. Unlike other types of essays, such as argumentative or expository essays, reflective essays focus on the writer’s personal thoughts and feelings rather than presenting objective facts or arguments.

Importance of Reflective Writing in Nursing

Reflective practice is an important tool for student nurses as it allows them to reflect on their experiences and learn from them. By engaging in reflective writing, nurses can better understand their practice and identify improvement areas. Reflective writing also helps nurses develop self-awareness, crucial for providing high-quality patient care. By reflecting on their experiences, nurses can identify their strengths and weaknesses and work towards becoming better healthcare professionals.

Reflective Essay Outline

A reflection paper follows a basic structure, which includes an introduction, body paragraphs, and a conclusion. The introduction should provide a brief overview of the experience or event being reflected upon and include a thesis statement stating the essay’s main point or purpose. The body paragraphs should explore the experience in detail, providing specific examples and reflecting on its impact on the writer’s personal and professional growth. The conclusion should summarize the essay’s main points and provide a final reflection on the experience. An effective outline is essential for organizing your thoughts and ensuring your essay flows smoothly. When creating an outline for a reflective essay, it is important to consider the main points you want to address and the order in which you want to present them. You should also think about the specific examples and evidence you will use to support your reflections. By creating a detailed outline, you can ensure that your essay is well-structured and coherent.

20 Best Reflective Essay Topics: Nursing

Choosing a topic for your reflective essay can be challenging, especially in nursing, where there are so many experiences to reflect upon. Here are 20 examples of reflective essay topics for nursing students:

  • My First Day on the Ward: Navigating emotions, challenges, and expectations.
  • The Patient Who Changed My Perspective on Nursing:  A personal transformation story.
  • Balancing Empathy and Professionalism:  Finding the middle ground.
  • Handling Medical Ethical Dilemmas:  Personal experiences and lessons learned.
  • The Role of Continuous Education in Nursing:  Adapting to new medical advancements.
  • Coping Mechanisms for Nurse Burnout: Personal strategies and recommendations.
  • The Value of Interdisciplinary Teamwork: Collaborating with doctors, therapists, and other healthcare professionals.
  • Cultural Sensitivity in Patient Care:  Lessons from a diverse patient encounter.
  • The Evolution of My Communication Skills:  From novice to proficient.
  • The Most Challenging Shift I Ever Worked:  Insights and personal growth from adversity.
  • Incorporating Holistic Care in Modern Medicine:  Personal experiences and the broader implications.
  • End-of-Life Care:  Navigating emotions, ethics, and patient wishes.
  • The Role of Family in Patient Recovery:  Observations from the Ward.
  • From Textbook to Reality:  Bridging the gap between academic knowledge and practical application.
  • Adapting to Different Nursing Environments: From emergency rooms to pediatric care.
  • The Emotional Impact of Pediatric Nursing:  The highs and lows.
  • The Importance of Self-Care in Nursing:  Personal routines and their impact on professional life.
  • Addressing Mental Health:  My Role as a Nurse: Encounters, challenges, and insights.
  • Reflecting on Patient Advocacy:  Standing up for patient rights and wishes.
  • Learning from Mistakes:  An introspective look at errors made and the invaluable lessons derived.

When choosing a topic for your reflective essay, it is important to select an experience that is meaningful to you and has significantly impacted your personal and professional growth. Choosing a topic that allows for self-reflection and analysis is also important. Check out these other nursing reflective essay samples:

  • Doctor Of Nursing Practice Essentials Reflection
  • Case Management In Nursing: Benefits And Disadvantages
  • Doctor Of Nursing Practice (DNP) Course Reflection
  • Video Reflection On Interprofessional Collaboration For NURS 4010
  • Registered Nurse Course Reflection
  • Nursing Values And Philosophy In The Correctional Setting
  • Nursing Violence In The Workplace
  • Nursing Role: Course Reflection And Personal Assessment
  • Nursing Professional Capstone And Practicum Reflection
  • Nursing Course Reflection And Future Plans
  • Nursing History: Today And Beyond
  • Doctor Of Nursing Practice Program In Reflections
  • Implementing Artificial Intelligence And Managing Change In Nursing

Nursing Reflective Essay Examples

Reading well-written nursing reflective essay samples can be a helpful way to improve your own writing. Analyzing these essays’ structure, language, and content, you can better understand what makes a strong reflective essay. Here are two examples to guide you:

Example 1: Reflecting on a Challenging Patient Interaction

During one of my regular shifts in the Medical-Surgical ward, I encountered Mrs. Smith, a patient known for her particularly assertive demeanor. I was met with resistance as I entered her room to administer her evening medications. She questioned the necessity of each drug, casting doubt on my professional judgment. Initially, I felt a rush of defensiveness, my immediate instinct being to assert my knowledge and the doctor’s recommendations. But I paused, taking a deep breath, recognizing the importance of patient autonomy and their right to understand their care. Rather than reverting to a purely clinical explanation, I sat beside Mrs. Smith and discussed her concerns. I inquired about the root of her hesitancy, which revealed a recent incident where she had suffered side effects from a prescribed medication at another facility. This incident left her feeling vulnerable and distrustful. By understanding this context, my perspective shifted from viewing her questions as challenges to my competence to seeing them as her way of seeking safety and assurance. Upon reflection, this situation underscored the significance of effective communication in nursing. It reminded me of Schön’s “reflection-in-action” model as I adapted my real-time approach based on Mrs. Smith’s feedback. Considering the workload and time constraints nurses often face, dismissing her concerns would have been easy. However, the brief moment I took to understand her concerns resolved her immediate anxieties and built a foundation of trust for our subsequent interactions. I’ve since carried this experience, ensuring I always prioritize patient communication, even facing challenges. Patients like Mrs. Smith have taught me that behind every question or concern is a story, and by taking the time to listen and understand, I can provide care that is not only clinically effective but also emotionally supportive.

In this reflective essay, the writer reflects on a challenging patient interaction and discusses what they learned. The essay begins with an introduction that provides an overview of the experience and states the essay’s main point. The body paragraphs explore the experience in detail, providing specific examples and reflecting on its impact on the writer’s personal and professional growth. The conclusion summarizes the essay’s main points and provides a final reflection on the experience.

Example 2: Reflecting on End-of-Life Care

In the early days of my nursing career, I had the profound responsibility of caring for Mr. Martinez, an elderly gentleman in the final stages of terminal cancer. Assigned as his primary nurse, I observed him gradually weaken, his once-vivacious spirit dimming each day. One evening, as the sunset painted a golden hue on the horizon, he wished to see it for what he felt might be the last time. The weight of his words struck me profoundly, and I felt the rawness of the impending loss. The hospital protocols were strict about moving critically ill patients, but at that moment, recognizing the gravity of Mr. Martinez’s request, I consulted with the on-duty physician. Together, we decided to make an exception. Assisting him in a wheelchair, we moved to the window, silently watching the sunset. Mr. Martinez shed tears of gratitude, and I found myself profoundly moved, our hands intertwined. This experience illuminated the profound nature of end-of-life care. It’s not just about medical protocols but about honoring the human spirit, its desires, and its need for closure. I recalled Boud’s Reflective Model, which emphasizes integrating feelings into the reflection process. The melancholy, the sense of impending loss, and the gratitude were emotions I had to process at the moment and the days that followed. Reflection upon this experience taught me that end-of-life care transcends clinical routines. It’s about recognizing the sanctity of life and the dignity of death. In our profession, we often get wrapped up in technicalities, but moments like these remind us of the deeper essence of nursing. Being present for Mr. Martinez in his final days reshaped my approach to care, reinforcing that sometimes, the most profound healing we can offer is understanding, presence, and the space for a patient to find peace.

In this reflective essay, the writer reflects on their experience providing end-of-life care and discusses the emotions and challenges they faced. The essay begins with an introduction that sets the stage for the reflection and states the essay’s main point. The body paragraphs explore the experience in detail, providing specific examples and reflecting on its impact on the writer’s personal and professional growth. The conclusion summarizes the essay’s main points and provides a final reflection on the experience. By studying these examples, you can understand how to structure your reflective essay and effectively convey your thoughts and emotions.

Tips for Effective Reflection in Nursing

Engaging in effective self-reflection is essential for improving your nursing practice. Here are some strategies for effective reflection:

  • Set aside dedicated time for reflection: Schedule a regular time for reflection in your daily or weekly routine. This will allow you to focus on your experiences and give them the attention they deserve.
  • Use a reflective journal: Keep a journal to record your thoughts and reflections regularly. This will help you track your progress and identify patterns or trends in your practice.
  • Seek feedback from others: Ask for feedback from colleagues, mentors, or supervisors. Their perspectives can provide valuable insights and help you identify areas for improvement.
  • Practice active listening: When interacting with patients, colleagues, or other healthcare professionals, practice active listening. This will help you better understand their perspectives and experiences, which can inform your own reflections.
  • Be open to criticism: Be open to receiving constructive criticism and use it as an opportunity for growth. Reflect on the feedback you receive and consider how it can help you improve your practice.
  • Engage in self-reflection exercises: Many can help you explore your thoughts and emotions. These exercises can range from simple prompts to more structured activities.

Incorporating these strategies into your practice can enhance your self-reflection skills and improve your nursing practice.

Reflective Tools and Models

Several reflective tools and models are commonly used in nursing to guide the reflective writing process. These tools and models provide a framework for organizing your thoughts and reflections. Here are some examples of reflective tools and models used in nursing:

Dewey’s Reflective Thinking Model

John Dewey, a prominent philosopher and educational theorist, posited reflection as a systematic process. Contrary to merely a passive pondering of thoughts, In Dewey’s reflective thinking model ,  a reflection is a conscious and intentional act. In his framework, the reflection process begins by recognizing a genuine problem. This recognition then moves to a thorough problem analysis and formulation of potential solutions. After deriving possible solutions, the most plausible one is tested, with the final stage being a reflection on the actions taken.

Kolb Reflective Model (Experiential Learning Cycle)

Originating from the insights of educational theorist David Kolb, this model underscores the pivotal role of experience in the learning process. Kolb’s reflective cycle is dynamic, suggesting we start with a concrete experience. This experience becomes the subject of reflection, from which we draw conclusions and construct theories or concepts. These developed theories are tested in new situations, contributing to new experiences and further reflection. It’s a continuous loop of learning through experience and reflection.

Schön Reflective Model

Donald Schön’s model centers on the professional’s ability to reflect when confronted with unexpected situations. Schön’s keen observation led to the classification of reflection into two types. The first, “Reflection-in-action,” is “thinking on one’s feet.” It encompasses reflection that occurs concurrently with action, allowing real-time modifications of techniques. Conversely, “Reflection-on-action” involves retrospection after an event to glean understanding and knowledge from that experience.

Bouds Reflective Model

David Boud championed a reflection model that encourages profound thinking and seamlessly integrates an individual’s feelings into the reflective process. Boud’s approach starts with revisiting the experience, emphasizing the recall of associated emotions and feelings. The next step requires recognizing and confronting any adverse feelings that could impede learning. By synthesizing feelings and the event, a clearer perspective guides future actions.

Driscoll Reflective Model

Developed by John Driscoll and influenced by Borton’s developmental framework , this model is known for its simplicity and easy recall. Driscoll’s model prompts individuals to objectively describe what transpired, posing, “What?” Following this descriptive phase, significance is sought with the query, “So what?” This analytical step paves the way for the final, future-oriented question: “Now what?” Here, the individual identifies lessons learned and considers how they can be integrated into future endeavors.

Gibbs’ Reflective Model

Graham Gibbs extended upon the foundational work of Kolb to produce a more detailed and structured reflective cycle . Gibbs prompts individuals first to describe their experience. This descriptive phase showcases thoughts and feelings during the event. An evaluation phase then discerns the positive and negative aspects of the experience, leading to an analytical phase that seeks to make sense of the situation. Conclusions are then drawn about potential alternative actions, and an action plan is formulated for future similar scenarios, completing the reflective cycle.

Using each model of reflection can enhance your reflective writing and help you better understand your practice. Their distinctions cater to varied preferences and contexts, ensuring that individuals can find a model that resonates best with their reflection style.

Common Mistakes to Avoid in Nursing Reflective Writing

When engaging in reflective writing, it is important to avoid common mistakes that can undermine the effectiveness of your reflection. Here are some common errors to avoid:

  • Superficial reflection: Avoid providing a superficial or surface-level reflection. Instead, strive to explore your thoughts and emotions in depth and consider the underlying factors that influence your practice.
  • Lack of critical analysis: Avoid describing your experiences without critically analyzing them. Instead, reflect on the impact of those experiences and consider how they have shaped your personal and professional growth.
  • Lack of self-awareness: Avoid acknowledging your strengths and weaknesses. Instead, strive to develop self-awareness and identify areas for improvement.
  • Lack of evidence or examples: Avoid making general statements without providing specific examples or evidence to support your reflections. Instead, use concrete examples to illustrate your points and provide evidence for your reflections.
  • Lack of action plan: Avoid failing to identify actions for future practice. Instead, consider how you can apply your reflections to improve your nursing practice and develop an action plan.

By avoiding these common mistakes, you can ensure that your reflective writing is effective and meaningful.

Final Thoughts on Reflective Nursing Essays

Reflective essays provide a means for nurses to engage in self-reflection and self-improvement. By reflecting on their experiences, nurses can gain a deeper understanding of their own practice, develop self-awareness, and identify areas for improvement. Reflective writing also helps nurses enhance their critical thinking skills, increase empathy and compassion, and promote professional growth and development. By following the tips and strategies outlined in this article, nurses can effectively reflect and improve their nursing practice.

If you’re feeling the weight of encapsulating your nursing journey accurately, we’re here to ease the burden. Our experienced team of writers understands the intricacies of reflective writing. Don’t miss the opportunity to present a reflective essay that resonates deeply and authentically. Place your order with us today, and let us craft a narrative that does justice to your journey.

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How to Write a Nursing Reflective Essay as a BSN Nursing Student

  • Jermaine Huey
  • November 29, 2023

In this article, we will provide you, as a BSN nursing student , with a comprehensive guide on how to write a compelling nursing reflective essay. Reflective essays are a personal reflection on your experiences in the nursing profession, and we are here to help you navigate this writing challenge.

What Is a Reflective Essay in Nursing?

A reflective essay in nursing is a powerful tool that allows nursing students to analyze their experiences, emotions, and actions related to their nursing practice. It provides an opportunity for self-reflection, critical thinking, and personal growth. Reflective writing can help nurses develop a deeper understanding of their own practice, improve patient care, and enhance their professional development.

Reflective essays in nursing differ from personal statements in that they focus on specific experiences and their impact on the writer’s growth and development. These essays require the writer to critically reflect on their actions, emotions, and thoughts, and identify ways to improve their practice. By examining their experiences and applying reflective frameworks, nursing students can gain valuable insights into their strengths, weaknesses, and areas for growth.

When writing a reflective essay in nursing , it is important to follow a structured approach. This includes describing the incident or experience, analyzing personal thoughts and feelings, exploring the actions taken, and reflecting on the outcomes and implications. By structuring the essay effectively, nursing students can communicate their reflections in a clear and organized manner.

Key Elements to Include in a Nursing Reflective Essay

When writing a nursing reflective essay, it is important to include key elements that will make your essay comprehensive and impactful. These elements will help you convey your thoughts and experiences clearly, allowing the reader to gain a deeper understanding of your reflections on nursing practice.

Inciting Incident or Event The first key element to include in your nursing reflective essay is the inciting incident or event. This is the moment or experience that triggered your reflection and made a significant impact on your practice. It could be a challenging patient encounter, an ethical dilemma, or a personal realization. By describing this event in detail, you set the stage for your reflective journey. Personal Reflections Your nursing reflective essay should also include personal reflections on the experience. This is where you delve into your thoughts, feelings, and emotions related to the inciting incident. Reflect on how the event made you feel, what you learned from it, and how it has influenced your growth as a nursing professional. Be honest and vulnerable in your reflections, as this will allow the reader to connect with your experience on a deeper level. Vivid Setting and Descriptive Details To create a vivid and engaging narrative, include specific details that paint a picture of the setting and the people involved. Describe the physical environment, the interactions between healthcare professionals and patients, and any other relevant details that contribute to the overall context of the experience. This will help the reader visualize the situation and understand the complexities of the event. Actions Taken Finally, it is important to describe the actions you took in response to the inciting incident. Discuss how you applied your nursing knowledge and skills to address the challenges or opportunities presented by the event. Reflect on the effectiveness of your actions and whether there were any areas for improvement. This demonstrates your ability to critically analyze your own practice and make informed decisions. By including these key elements in your nursing reflective essay, you can create a comprehensive and impactful piece of writing that showcases your growth and development as a nursing professional.

How to Write the Introduction of a Nursing Reflective Essay

The introduction of a nursing reflective essay plays a crucial role in capturing the reader’s attention and setting the tone for the entire essay. It should provide a concise overview of the main points that will be discussed and create a sense of curiosity and engagement. Here are some tips to help you write an effective introduction for your nursing reflective essay:

  • Start with an intriguing opening line: Begin your introduction with a captivating statement or anecdote that relates to the topic of your essay. This will grab the reader’s attention and make them eager to continue reading.
  • Provide context and background information: Give a brief overview of the event or experience that you will be reflecting on in your essay. This will help the reader understand the context and significance of your reflections.
  • Present a clear thesis statement: Your thesis statement should clearly state the main purpose of your essay and the specific points or themes that you will be exploring. This will give the reader a preview of what to expect in the body of the essay.

By following these tips, you can craft an introduction that captivates the reader and sets the stage for a compelling nursing reflective essay.

“As I walked into the busy hospital ward on my first day of clinical rotation, I couldn’t help but feel a mix of excitement and nervousness. Little did I know that this experience would become a pivotal moment in my nursing journey, shaping my understanding of empathy, communication, and patient-centered care. In this reflective essay, I will delve into the details of this encounter and explore the personal and professional growth that resulted from it.”

With an attention-grabbing opening, providing context, and presenting a clear thesis statement, your introduction will set the stage for a compelling nursing reflective essay that captures the reader’s attention and lays the foundation for your reflections.

Nursing Reflection Essay Tips and Examples

Writing a nursing reflective essay requires careful consideration and thoughtful analysis. Here are some tips to help you craft an impactful and meaningful reflection essay as a BSN nursing student . Additionally, we will provide examples to illustrate how these tips can be applied.

Tips for Writing a Nursing Reflection Essay:

  • Start by choosing a specific experience or event that had a significant impact on your nursing practice. This could be a challenging patient encounter, a critical incident, or a personal realization that transformed your perspective.
  • Reflect on the experience and consider how it affected your emotions, thoughts, and actions. What did you learn from the experience? How has it shaped your growth as a nursing professional?
  • Focus on the key aspects of the experience that were particularly impactful or meaningful to you. Avoid including unnecessary details or deviating from the main message of your reflection.
  • Use specific examples, anecdotes, or patient scenarios to support your reflections. This will make your essay more engaging and relatable to the reader.
  • Consider the ethical implications of the experience and reflect on how it has influenced your approach to patient care and decision-making.
  • End your essay with a reflection on the implications of your learning for future nursing practice. How will you apply the lessons learned to provide better care and improve patient outcomes?

Now, let’s take a look at two examples of nursing reflective essays to further illustrate these tips:

“During my clinical rotation in the Intensive Care Unit (ICU), I encountered a complex patient case that challenged my critical thinking skills and decision-making abilities. The patient was a middle-aged woman who had undergone a complicated surgery and experienced numerous post-operative complications. This experience taught me the importance of collaboration within the healthcare team and the significance of advocating for the patient’s best interests…”
“One of the most significant experiences during my nursing education was my time spent in the pediatric oncology unit. Witnessing the resilience and bravery of children facing life-threatening illnesses had a profound impact on my perspective as a nurse. It taught me the importance of providing holistic care, not only addressing physical needs but also supporting emotional well-being and promoting a positive environment for healing…”

These examples demonstrate how personal reflections, specific details, and professional insights can be incorporated to create a compelling nursing reflective essay. Remember to structure your essay in a clear and organized manner, ensuring that your reflections flow logically and coherently.

By following these tips and utilizing examples, you can create a compelling nursing reflective essay that showcases your growth and development as a nursing professional.

How to Conclude a Nursing Reflective Essay

The conclusion of a nursing reflective essay serves as the final reflection on the writer’s growth and learning from the experience. It is an essential part of the essay that summarizes the main points discussed and leaves a lasting impression on the reader. The reflective essay conclusion should bring closure to the essay by restating the thesis statement and highlighting the key takeaways from the essay.

To write a strong and impactful conclusion, start by restating the thesis statement in a clear and concise manner. This reminds the reader of the main focus of the essay and reinforces its significance. Next, summarize the key points discussed in the body paragraphs, highlighting the most important insights and reflections. This helps to reinforce the main ideas and ensures that they are not overlooked in the final reflection.

In addition to summarizing the main points, a thought-provoking statement or future outlook can be included to provide a sense of closure and leave the reader with something to ponder. This can be a reflection on how the experience has influenced the writer’s future practice or a call to action for continued personal and professional growth. By ending the essay on a strong and meaningful note, the conclusion enhances the overall impact of the nursing reflective essay.

A well-crafted conclusion is essential for a nursing reflective essay as it reinforces the main ideas, leaves a lasting impression on the reader, and provides a sense of closure. By following these tips, nursing students can create a powerful and impactful conclusion that enhances the overall effectiveness of their reflective essays.

Reflective Tools and Models for Nursing Reflective Essays

Reflective tools and models can provide structure and guidance for nursing students when writing reflective essays. These tools help organize thoughts and experiences, allowing for a more comprehensive and meaningful reflection. By utilizing reflection models , nursing students can enhance their reflective writing skills and deepen their understanding of their own growth and development as healthcare professionals.

Gibbs’ Reflective Model

“Reflective practice is both an art and a science that requires ongoing commitment and practice.” – Gibbs

Gibbs’ Reflective Model is a widely used reflection framework in nursing. It consists of six stages: description, feelings, evaluation, analysis, conclusion, and action plan. This model encourages a structured approach to reflection, allowing the writer to systematically explore their thoughts and emotions, analyze the situation, and identify areas for improvement or further development.

Dewey’s Reflective Thinking Model

“We do not learn from experience, we learn from reflecting on experience.” – Dewey

Dewey’s Reflective Thinking Model focuses on the importance of reflection as a tool for learning and growth. It emphasizes the need to actively engage with experiences, thoughts, and emotions, and to critically evaluate them in order to gain deeper insights and understanding. This model encourages nursing students to think analytically and develop a continuous learning mindset.

Kolb Reflective Model

“Knowledge results from the combination of grasping experience and transforming it.” – Kolb

The Kolb Reflective Model is based on the concept of experiential learning. It consists of four stages: concrete experience, reflective observation, abstract conceptualization, and active experimentation. This model encourages nursing students to engage in a cyclical process of learning, where they actively participate in experiences, reflect on them, conceptualize their insights, and apply their learning in real-life situations.

Schön Reflective Model

“Reflection-in-action is the heart of the learning process.” – Schön

Schön Reflective Model emphasizes the importance of reflection in the midst of action. It focuses on the ability to think and adapt in real-time, making decisions based on professional knowledge and experiences. This model encourages nursing students to develop a reflective mindset that allows them to learn and grow while actively engaging in their practice.

Nursing Reflective Essay Example – Essay About Myself for Nursing Sample

Looking for inspiration for your nursing reflective essay? Here are some Nursing Reflective Essay examples that showcase different experiences, reflections, and growth in the nursing profession.

My Journey to Nursing: A Personal Essay From a young age, I’ve always been drawn to the idea of helping others. This innate desire, combined with my fascination with the human body and medical science, has led me to pursue a career in nursing. My journey towards this goal has been shaped by personal experiences, academic pursuits, and a deep-seated passion for making a difference in people’s lives. Early Influences My interest in healthcare was first sparked when I was 12 years old. My grandmother was diagnosed with diabetes, and I watched in awe as nurses not only administered her medical care but also provided emotional support to our entire family. Their compassion and expertise left a lasting impression on me, planting the seed for my future career aspirations. Academic Preparation Throughout high school, I gravitated towards science courses, excelling in biology and chemistry. These subjects not only fascinated me but also reinforced my decision to pursue a career in healthcare. I joined the school’s Health Occupations Students of America (HOSA) club, which allowed me to explore various healthcare professions and solidified my interest in nursing. Practical Experience To gain hands-on experience, I volunteered at a local hospital during my senior year of high school. This opportunity allowed me to observe nurses in action and interact with patients. I was struck by the nurses’ ability to blend technical skills with empathy, providing both medical care and emotional support. This experience confirmed that nursing was the right path for me. Personal Qualities I believe that my natural empathy, strong communication skills, and ability to remain calm under pressure make me well-suited for a nursing career. I’m a detail-oriented person who thrives in team environments, qualities that I understand are essential in the nursing profession. Future Goals As I embark on my nursing education, I’m excited to deepen my understanding of medical science and develop the skills necessary to provide exceptional patient care. In the future, I hope to specialize in pediatric nursing, as I have a particular affinity for working with children. Conclusion Nursing is more than just a career choice for me; it’s a calling. I’m committed to the challenging yet rewarding journey ahead, eager to learn, grow, and eventually make a positive impact on the lives of my future patients. I’m confident that my passion, combined with the education I will receive, will enable me to become a skilled, compassionate, and dedicated nurse. Nursing Reflection Examples Nursing Exemplar Essay Example 1: Providing End-of-Life Care As a nurse, I’ve encountered many challenging situations, but none have impacted me as profoundly as providing end-of-life care. My experience with Mrs. Johnson, a 78-year-old patient with terminal cancer, stands out as a pivotal moment in my nursing career. When I first met Mrs. Johnson, I was struck by her quiet dignity in the face of her prognosis. As her condition deteriorated, I found myself grappling with a range of emotions – sadness at her suffering, frustration at my inability to cure her, and a deep sense of responsibility to ensure her comfort and peace in her final days. One of the biggest challenges I faced was communication. How do you discuss death and dying with a patient and their family? I learned the importance of active listening, of being present not just physically but emotionally. There were times when words seemed inadequate, and I discovered that sometimes, a gentle touch or a moment of silence spoke volumes. Empathy became my most valuable tool. I tried to put myself in Mrs. Johnson’s shoes, to understand her fears and hopes. This approach helped me provide care that went beyond mere medical procedures – it allowed me to connect with her as a person, to honor her life story. The experience also taught me the critical importance of self-care. The emotional toll of end-of-life care can be immense, and I learned that to provide the best care for my patients, I needed to take care of myself too. Regular debriefings with my colleagues, mindfulness practices, and maintaining a healthy work-life balance became essential parts of my routine. Reflecting on this experience, I realize how much it has shaped me as a nurse. It has deepened my understanding of the human experience of dying and reinforced my commitment to compassionate, patient-centered care. While challenging, providing end-of-life care has been one of the most rewarding aspects of my nursing career, allowing me to make a meaningful difference in my patients’ final moments.

Examples of Nursing Reflection on Leadership

My journey into nursing leadership began unexpectedly when I was asked to step in as the interim charge nurse on my unit. Initially, I felt overwhelmed by the responsibility, but this experience became a profound learning opportunity that shaped my understanding of effective leadership in nursing. One of the first challenges I encountered was balancing the diverse needs of patients, staff, and the organization. I quickly realized that effective leadership isn’t about having all the answers, but about fostering a collaborative environment where everyone’s expertise is valued. I implemented regular team huddles to ensure open communication and to collectively problem-solve. My leadership style evolved to become more transformational. I focused on inspiring and motivating my team, rather than merely managing tasks. This approach led to increased job satisfaction among staff and, consequently, improved patient outcomes. I saw firsthand how a positive work environment translates directly to better patient care. However, leadership also meant facing difficult situations. I had to address performance issues with some team members, which taught me the importance of clear communication, fairness, and documentation. These experiences helped me develop crucial conflict resolution skills. One of the most significant lessons I learned was the power of leading by example. When I demonstrated a strong work ethic, a commitment to excellence, and a compassionate approach to patient care, I saw these qualities reflected back in my team. Reflecting on my leadership journey, I recognize how much I’ve grown both professionally and personally. I’ve learned to trust my instincts, to be decisive when necessary, and to remain flexible in the face of the ever-changing healthcare landscape. Most importantly, I’ve come to understand that effective nursing leadership is about empowering others to deliver the best possible care to our patients.

Nursing Student Reflection Example on Dealing with Ethical Dilemmas

In my nursing career, I’ve faced numerous challenging situations, but one ethical dilemma stands out as particularly impactful. It involved a terminally ill patient, Mr. Davis, who had expressed his wish to discontinue life-sustaining treatment, a decision his family vehemently opposed. The core of this ethical dilemma lay in the conflict between two fundamental principles of medical ethics: respect for patient autonomy and beneficence (doing good for the patient). On one hand, Mr. Davis had clearly stated his wish to die peacefully without further medical intervention. On the other, his family believed that continuing treatment was in his best interest, hoping for a miracle. As the primary nurse, I found myself in the middle of this conflict. I had to navigate the delicate balance between honoring the patient’s wishes and addressing the family’s concerns, all while ensuring the best possible care for Mr. Davis. My decision-making process involved several steps. First, I revisited the ethical principles at play, consulting our hospital’s ethics guidelines. I also engaged in discussions with the healthcare team, including the attending physician and our hospital ethicist. Crucially, I facilitated open conversations between Mr. Davis, his family, and the medical team. These discussions were emotionally charged but essential. I focused on active listening, allowing all parties to express their views and concerns fully. Throughout this process, I maintained a neutral stance, serving as an advocate for Mr. Davis while also showing empathy towards his family’s perspective. I ensured that Mr. Davis was of sound mind and fully understood the implications of his decision. Similarly, I worked with the family to help them understand their loved one’s wishes and the concept of quality of life versus quantity. Ultimately, after many difficult conversations, the family came to accept Mr. Davis’s decision. We were able to shift the focus from life-prolonging treatments to comfort care, ensuring that Mr. Davis’s final days were peaceful and aligned with his wishes. This experience taught me valuable lessons about navigating complex ethical situations in nursing. I learned the importance of clear communication, the need for a systematic approach to ethical decision-making, and the value of collaborative efforts in resolving ethical dilemmas. Most importantly, this situation reinforced my understanding that in nursing, ethical dilemmas are often not about finding a clear “right” or “wrong” answer, but about balancing competing values and priorities to arrive at the most ethically sound decision possible. It strengthened my commitment to patient advocacy and reinforced the importance of continuous ethical education in nursing practice.

These examples demonstrate how nursing reflective essays can provide valuable insights into personal experiences, reflections, and professional growth. They serve as excellent references to help nursing students develop their own reflective writing skills and gain a deeper understanding of the nursing profession.

Writing a nursing reflective essay can be a transformative experience for BSN nursing students. It allows them to gain valuable insight into their own growth and development as future healthcare professionals. Throughout this comprehensive guide, we have provided expert information and guidance on how to write a compelling nursing reflective essay.

By understanding the purpose of a reflective essay and the key elements to include, nursing students can effectively showcase their personal experiences and reflections. Incorporating reflection models such as Gibbs’ Reflective Model or Kolb Reflective Model can also provide structure and depth to their essays.

At NursingWriters.net, we are dedicated to empowering busy nurses and providing them with the tools they need to excel in their BSN programs. Whether it’s writing a reflective essay or any other writing challenge, we are here to support and guide nursing students towards success.

What is a nursing reflective essay?

A nursing reflective essay is a personal essay where the writer reflects on their own experiences and how those experiences have shaped their growth and development in the nursing profession.

How is a reflective essay in nursing different from a personal statement?

While a reflective essay in nursing focuses on the writer’s personal experiences and reflections, a personal statement is more of a formal document that highlights the writer’s qualifications, achievements, and future goals in the nursing profession.

What are the key elements to include in a nursing reflective essay?

The key elements to include in a nursing reflective essay are the inciting incident or event, personal reflections on the experience, specific details to create a vivid setting, and a description of the actions taken by the writer. It is important to avoid including academic details and excessive focus on emotions.

How should I write the introduction of a nursing reflective essay?

To write an engaging and informative introduction for a nursing reflective essay, you can grab the reader’s attention with an intriguing opening line, provide context and background information, and present a clear thesis statement. Focus on the specific event or experience that will be the main focus of the essay.

How should I structure the body paragraphs of a nursing reflective essay?

The body paragraphs of a nursing reflective essay should have a clear structure. Use the first paragraph to present the thesis statement and provide background information on the event. Use subsequent paragraphs to explore your reflections, emotions, and actions taken. Use specific examples and anecdotes to make the essay more engaging.

How should I conclude a nursing reflective essay?

To write a strong conclusion for a nursing reflective essay, you can summarize the main points discussed in the essay, provide a final reflection on your growth and learning from the experience, restate the thesis statement, and leave the reader with a thought-provoking statement or future outlook.

What are some tips for writing a nursing reflective essay?

Some tips for writing a nursing reflective essay include starting early, conducting thorough self-reflection, organizing your thoughts and ideas, and seeking feedback from peers or instructors. Pay attention to proper grammar and spelling, coherent writing style, and adhere to any formatting guidelines provided.

How can reflective tools and models help with nursing reflective essays?

Reflective tools and models provide structure and guidance for nursing students when writing reflective essays. Models such as Gibbs’ Reflective Model, Dewey’s Reflective Thinking Model, Kolb Reflective Model, and Schön Reflective Model can be used as frameworks for organizing thoughts and experiences in a nursing reflective essay.

What are the benefits of reflective writing in nursing?

Reflective writing in nursing offers benefits such as enhanced self-awareness, improved critical thinking skills, increased empathy and understanding of patient experiences, and continuous professional development. It promotes lifelong learning and helps improve patient care.

Where can I find nursing reflective essay examples?

You can find nursing reflective essay examples that showcase different experiences, reflections, and growth. These examples incorporate personal reflections, specific details, and professional insights into nursing practice. They demonstrate the diversity of topics and experiences that can be explored in nursing reflective essays.

How can I write a nursing reflective essay for nursing school applications?

To write a nursing reflective essay for nursing school applications, reflect on your passion for nursing, personal experiences in healthcare settings, and future goals in the nursing profession. Address specific prompts and align the content with the nursing school’s values and mission.

How can writing a nursing reflective essay benefit BSN nursing students?

Writing a nursing reflective essay allows BSN nursing students to gain insight into their own growth and development as future healthcare professionals. It helps improve critical thinking skills, self-awareness, and understanding of patient experiences. It also promotes continuous professional development.

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How to Write a Nursing Reflective Essay (Guide for Nurse Students)

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If you are a nursing or medicine student, you are aware that you will come across or have already come across assignments requiring you to write a nursing reflection essay. At first, such a task always appears challenging, but given the understanding of the steps, things flat out, and you can write reflective essays and get better grades.

Reflective practice is highly encouraged in nursing. Reflection entails making sense of situations, events, actions, and phenomena in the workplace.

As a nursing student, you will be asked to write a reflective essay on your clinical placement, practicum, shadowing experience, shadow health DCE activities, personal nursing philosophy, why you want to become a nurse, nursing program, ethical dilemma, knowledge, skills, and abilities, systems, and processes.

The easiest way to complete the reflective essay assignment is by first determining what reflective writing entails, its significance, its steps, and some of the best tips that form the core of this ultimate guide.

Basics of Reflective Writing in Nursing

Reflective writing is an analytical writing practice where the writer describes a real or imaginary event, scene, phenomenon, occurrence, or memory, including their takeaway. It entails the critical analysis of an experience, including recording how it has impacted you and what you intend to do with the new knowledge or how to act when such an occurrence recurs.

As you document the encounter, you can use first-person pronouns and write subjectively and objectively. This means that you can decide to either use personal experiences alone or support these experiences using citations from scholarly sources.

When writing a reflective essay in nursing, you must recount the events and give critical detail of how the events shaped your knowledge acquisition. Reflection helps nursing students develop skills in self-directed learning, which is directly associated with high motivation and improved quality of care .

In most cases, reflection occurs on what went well and what went wrong. It could be a successful operation, a thank you note from a patient, a patient who regained their health faster, or a new nursing care plan that worked. However, it can also be about adverse events such as death, postoperative complications, death of an infant at birth, dissatisfied patient, medical error, or a failed procedure.

As a nursing student, when you learn to reflect on situations, you grow to become a professional nurse who diligently does their noble duty.

When writing a reflective essay, you begin by setting the scene (explaining what, where, how, and who-the situation), detailing how you felt (emotional state), why it happened (making sense of the situation), critical review and development of insights, a note on what was learned, and strategies to address future recurrence.

Your professor may ask you to write a nursing reflective paper about various topics in your course or your experience working in a group, how you solved a problem, a healthcare issue, or clinical practice. Consider the following example of a reflective statement in nursing; in my clinical practices, I realized I focused more on the technical aspects but failed to explain what it was doing to improve their health. I would like to understand more about listening to patience and their concerns to better care for them.

As you will notice later, these reflective stages are structured into different reflective models and frameworks that we will explore in-depth. So, with the understanding of what comprises reflective writing and its importance in nursing, let's now get solid on the structure.

Related Reading:

  • Philosophy of Nursing Example.
  • Ideas and topics for nursing capstone or project papers
  • How to write a SOAP note paper
  • Top nursing debate topics
  • Nursing Theories and Theorists.

Structure of a Reflective Essay in Nursing

A reflective essay is an analytical writing piece describing and evaluating encounters or experiences. When asked to write one, you should know that an excellent reflective essay consists of different parts, just like a typical academic essay. It comprises the cover or title page, introduction, body paragraphs, conclusions, and a references page.

The title page contains information about the assignment. If you are writing the reflective essay in APA, include these on the title page:

  • Title of the reflective essay
  • Course code and name
  • Instructors name
  • Name of your institution
  • Date of submission

When writing in Harvard format, the title or the cover page will consist of the following:

  • Title of the essay in title case and the page number (upper right margin),
  • Title of the essay in CAPS,
  • Name of class or course,
  • Name of the instructor,
  • Name of your school,
  • City and state where your school is located and,
  • The date of submission.

Introduction

The introduction begins with an attention grabber or a hook sentence to attract readers' attention. It should then explain the essay's purpose and signpost the ideas that will come later in the essay. The introduction also has a thesis statement at the end of the paragraph- the last sentence. The thesis is concise, clear, and relatable and should reflect your position.

Body Paragraphs

The body paragraphs of a reflective essay can be three or more, depending on the length of the essay. Essentially, the body comprises 80% of the total word count.

The first paragraph is where you describe the situation, including the events, why they occurred, how they occurred, and those involved.

The second paragraph entails your personal feelings or reaction to the situation and how it made you feel.

The third paragraph can include making sense of the situation. You have to think about why things happened the way they did. You should also critically review and develop insights based on the situation. Finally, think of the factors that could have influenced the situation.

The next paragraph should explain how the event or situation will change your practice, approach, decisions, perspective, or perception. This is where you evaluate the experience by detailing the knowledge and skills you took from the experience.

The last body paragraph should entail a critical reflection on the learning opportunities. First, describe the situation and what it made you learn. Next, elaborate on how you intend to make yourself better poised to address such situations.

Mostly, you should structure the body of your essay as per the preferred nursing reflective model.

After everything else falls into place, you need to summarize the information you presented in the essay. Then, finally, restate your thesis and have a call to action to bring a sense of closure to your readers.

Steps for Writing a Nursing Reflection Essay � The Guide

When assigned to write a reflective essay for your nursing class, here are the surefire steps to get you to success.

Read the instructions

The first step after receiving an assignment is to begin reading the instructions. as you read, note what your instructor or professor expects in the paper you will submit for marking.

Reading instructions helps you to get informed on the scope of the paper, word count, number of references and pages, and the formatting style to use.

Besides, you also get to plan your paper with the deadline highlighted in the instructions.

You need to get a conducive environment where you can start writing.

The first step of writing is to brainstorm about situations during your clinical hours when you were shadowing a Nurse Practitioner or one you have read about.

Assess whether the situation or scenario you have thought, encountered, or chosen can help you write a reflective essay that meets the requirements.

Research and Plan

After choosing a scenario, the next step is researching the best reflective model.

You can use your class text, the instructions, the college library, course readings, and online nursing journals to get articles and resources with information about specific reflective models.

Select the best reflective model and take notes on the steps it entails.

As you research, write down notes on how to address your paper based on your selected framework or model of reflection . Additionally, research nursing journal articles with information you can use when critically analyzing a situation.

Plan how you will handle the paper as well. For instance, as you research, develop a thesis statement that grounds your entire paper, then draft an outline on how to develop the thesis.

Write an Outline

Outlining is a crucial aspect of writing. It helps you envision how you will meet the objective of writing a reflective essay. As an essential part of the essay writing process, outlining helps create a good flow of ideas and can come in handy in helping you overcome writer's block. Your outline should comprise the following:

  • The hook or attention grabber
  • Thesis statement
  • Main points of each body paragraph (topic sentence, evidence, examples, illustrations, etc.)
  • Conclusion (restated thesis and call-to-action)

With the outline done, you should take a break and resume writing your first draft of the nursing reflection essay. Writing with an outline helps avoid mistakes and also helps you write faster.

Describe the Experience

Once you have identified the relevant experience, begin describing it chronologically.

Describe the experience that prompted you to consider nursing your ideal career goal. Think of this experience's key elements, such as the setting, patient demographics, and significant events that impacted you.

Show how these events changed your perspective on life. Ensure you are as descriptive as possible to paint a clear picture for readers.

Consider the following questions to come up with a good description:

  • What happened?
  • Was there someone involved? If yes, what part did they play?
  • Where did the event take place?
  • What actions did you take?

Set the context of this experience by giving relevant background information. Ensure you are objective and pay attention to the facts.

Provide a Reflection

Talk about your feelings and thoughts concerning the particular experience you went through. You have to be honest and open up about your initial expectations and challenges you faced at each stage of the experience. The following questions can help you come up with a good reflection:

  • What was I trying to achieve?
  • What prompted me to act the way I did?
  • Are there any consequences for my actions? If yes, what are they?
  • How did I feel about this event as it was happening?
  • How did those around me react to it?
  • How do I know how those around me felt about it?

Analyze the Experience

Description of an experience is essential, but so is analysis. You have to move beyond the surface and give a critical analysis of your experience.

State your actions, and your overall experience will give insights into your experience. Think of how the experience has impacted your actions, feelings, and thoughts.

Give an Evaluation

Evaluate the skills and knowledge you got from the experience. Show how you can apply these skills and knowledge in your nursing practice. Also, state the actions and interventions you took during the nursing experience.

State whether you achieved the desired outcome and if there are any specific areas that you need to improve on.

Talk about how you built or improved skills like communication, teamwork, and critical thinking.

As you evaluate the experience, identify what you believe to be your strengths and weaknesses in the nursing experience. What have you learned from the experience? State the areas where you excelled and what abilities contributed to your success.

Talk about how those you were with during the clinical experience complimented you. Similarly, acknowledge your weaknesses.

What kind of mistakes did you make, and how did you improve them? Talk about the tasks that drain you most during the experience.

Illustrate Learning

Demonstrate elements of deeper thought and reflection levels. This is a great point to include nursing theories in your reflection essay to support analysis of your experience.

Relate your experiences to the theoretical frameworks you were taught in class. This is effective learning and will demonstrate your ability to apply knowledge to real-life nursing situations.

Doing this will also show that you can effectively deduce different things from observations made during the reflection process.

Ensure you also demonstrate a change in perspective, as this will prove that you learned something from the experience.

Write Your Conclusion

Conclude by summarizing your points and highlighting the lessons learned.

The lessons you reached as part of your reflection should support your overall conclusion.

Also, restate your thesis statement.

Come Up with an Action Plan

Now that you have learned from your reflection develop an action plan for future nursing practice.

This part should contain all the details you have learned and actions needed to improve when faced with a similar situation. Consider the following questions:

  • What would I change if faced with a similar situation?
  • How can I develop the necessary skills needed to face this situation?
  • How can I act differently in a similar situation?  

Ensure you identify areas to improve and set realistic goals to enhance your nursing skills. Discuss how you intend to seek additional education, training, or mentorship to address your shortcomings.

Finally, end the essay with a happy note so readers know you learned something from the experiences.

Proofread, Edit, and Polish

After doing your first draft, take a break to relax and get out of the writing mood - it helps you to become objective.

You can then resume reading out loud to yourself, make necessary tweaks, and ensure that every part you include meets the rubric requirements.

Edit for grammar, punctuation, tenses, voice, spelling, and use of language. You should also proofread the essay to adhere to the style, organization, and presentation requirements.

Ensure that all the in-text citations are accounted for in the reference list and are up-to-date. You are good to go when you have an essay that meets all the instructions.

Finally, you can submit the paper for grading.

Writing is not everyone's cup of tea. For that reason, you can hire a nursing reflection essay writer from our website to assist you in crafting a top-grade paper. In addition, we have nursing writers whose forte is writing various nursing papers.

Choosing the suitable Reflective Model or Framework

As you can see above, many reflective models are used for your reflective essay. We have not exhaustively listed and expounded on all of them. Other reflective models and frameworks you can also consider when writing a reflective essay in nursing include:

  • Bouds Reflective Model
  • Brookfield Reflective Model
  • Pender's Health Promotion Model
  • Roper Logan and Tierney Model
  • Driscoll Reflective Model
  • The Johari window model

Note that most nursing instructors will often suggest the models they prefer for you to use in your essay.

For example, in most nursing reflective essays. Whichever the case, readily available information expands on each model to make it easier to write a reflection essay on a specific aspect of nursing education or practice.

Read the assignment rubric and instructions to understand the specific model. If it is unclear, ask for clarification from your instructor early enough.

Tips for Writing a Good Nursing Reflective Essay

As you try to figure out how to write a nursing reflective essay, keep the following tips in mind.

Choose the Right Topic

If the instructions from your professors involve choosing a topic for the reflective essay, you must select one that is meaningful to you.

This will ensure you can easily write and easily develop relevant elements about the topic. Therefore, take time to pick a topic that you find interesting.

As you write, ensure you stay on topic, whether sharing a one-off event or a recurrent story.

Use the Right Tone

A reflective essay is more personal, unlike other types of academic essays. This means you don't need a strict or formal tone.

Since this is about your experiences, use personal pronouns such as I and Me.

Be Vulnerable

You must be extremely vulnerable to learn how to write a reflective essay in nursing.

Be open about your thoughts, feelings, and beliefs about something you went through that sparked an interest in nursing.

It's okay to share mistakes or things you did wrong that eventually led you to this career path.

Choose the Right Focus

A reflection essay is all about narrating your experience during the nursing experience.

While including other people in your experience is okay, please let them not be the center of your reflection.

This is your essay, so you should be the focus of attention.

Keep it Brief

A good nursing reflection essay should be between 300 and 800 consciously written words. Because of this length, you must only write relevant information about your reflection. Refrain from lengthy reflections, as they make it difficult to pass your points across.

Convey Your Information Wisely

Even though a nursing reflection essay is about your personal experiences, it doesn't mean you should reveal everything about yourself. Ask yourself whether something is appropriate before including it in your paper.

Mistakes to Avoid When Writing a Reflection Essay in Nursing

A good reflection essay involves reflecting on your nursing studies and practices throughout school and career to demonstrate your competence. For this reason, there are certain mistakes you should be aware of when writing an essay.

Not including a Personal Story

Like food tastes bland without salt, so does a reflection essay without a personal story. At the center of a reflection essay is You. This means the essay should focus on your personal story that led you to want a nursing career. A lot of times, students miss out on this instead of talking about their story. You need more than just the personal qualities you think will be a great fit for the nursing program; you must also share a story that shows how well you contributed to nursing care.

Failing to Share Your Experience

You will lose points when you fail to include nursing-related experiences in your reflection essay. Mentioning that you want to be a nurse is great, but failing to show specific events that led to the desire will cost you a great point.

Plagiarizing Your Essay

Plagiarism is a serious academic offense because it is considered taking other people's ideas and using them as your own without crediting the author. So, provide relevant citations and references for any ideas that aren't your own. Also, an AI will not write your essay as a human writer would. 

Related Readings:

  • How to write a student nurse resume with no experience.
  • PICOT examples and guides

Sample of a Nursing Reflective Essay 

The following is a sample of a nursing Reflective essay using Gibb's Model of Reflection. Use this sample to guide you when writing your own.

Introduction  Communication is an important element in healthcare practice as it determines patient satisfaction and treatment outcomes. This essay will focus on reflecting on an experience I went through with a 40-year-old diabetic patient who also had a foot infected with an ulcer. When I approached the patient to sign the consent form, I noticed that he wasn't happy because of the news given to him about his health. I concluded that there must be a communication dilemma. I will reflect on the experience using Gibb's Model of Reflection. Using this model, I will identify and discuss the actions taken to resolve the issue. Description  This incident happened a few months ago when I was working as a wound nurse in a Methodist hospital in my hometown. I was part of a care team handling the case of a 40-year-old male patient with diabetes and an infected diabetic foot ulcer. After careful examination, a team comprising various specialists concluded that his leg needed amputation below the knee. After making this decision, the team left, and I was asked to give the patient a consent form to sign. When I came back from retrieving the form, I noticed the patient looked sorrowful because of the news given to him. Feelings  As soon as I saw the patient, I knew what he was going through. He perceived the situation to be irreparable, but I wasn't sure whether to console the patient or not. I was powerless and couldn't imagine what he was going through. At the same time, I was startled that the team left without showing any compassion. They could have handled the situation more delicately. I, on the other hand, could have relayed the information better. I wasn't sure whether my approach would be acceptable or appropriate. Evaluation  I always go back to that particular situation and wonder whether I could have acted better. The situation helped me better understand the importance of good communication in patient care, particularly in therapeutic care. Before the incident, I didn't acknowledge the role of nurses play in caring for patient's emotional needs. I realized nurses must show compassion and console patients in their low moments.  Analysis  Most healthcare professionals do not know how to deliver bad news to patients. They find the process extremely challenging and always feel psychologically unprepared. This has a negative impact on patients and could lead to bad health outcomes. Furthermore, how information is relayed could impact a patient's adherence to treatment. Because of these effects, multiple protocols and approaches were developed to help with communicating bad news to patients. One of the approaches that was proposed is emotion-centered. This proposes that a healthcare provider acknowledges how sad the patient is and builds a professional relationship based on empathy and sympathy. Action Plan I now understand the essence of communicating bad news with compassion. The experience allowed me to look closely at different aspects of my professional development that needed more improvement. Thus, I plan to be more empathetic and speak up in support of patient's emotional and psychological well-being, especially when presented with traumatic news about their health. Additionally, I now understand I am not powerless when dealing with a sorrowful patient. I believe I have learned from my experience, and I'm not able to communicate well with patients any more. Conclusion  The experience allowed me to value good communication in nursing and the need to incorporate it into daily nurse-patient interaction. Nurses must learn how to deliver bad news and manage patient's sorrow. This has been and will continue to be my biggest priority in patient care. References Street Jr, R. L., Makoul, G., Arora, N. K., & Epstein, R. M. (2009). How does communication heal? Pathways linking clinicianpatient communication to health outcomes. Patient education and counselling, 74(3), 295-301. Buckman, R. (1992). Breaking bad news: why is it still so difficult? BMJ: British Medical Journal, 304(6842), 886. Ptacek, J. T., & Eberhardt, T. L. (1996). Breaking bad news: a review of the literature. The Journal of the American Medical Association, 276(6), 496-502.

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How to Write a Nursing Reflection Paper: A Complete 2024 Guide with an Example

Avatar of Carla Logan MSN, APRN-CNP, RN

Introduction

A nursing reflection paper is a type of academic writing where nurses analyze their experiences, behaviors, and outcomes in clinical practice . It involves a critical examination of events, decisions, and actions taken during nursing practice, with a focus on understanding and learning from these experiences to improve future professional performance. The paper typically includes personal insights, emotions, and the application of theoretical concepts to practical situations. This article aims to provide a comprehensive guide on how to write a nursing reflection paper. It will cover the importance of reflection, the types of reflection, how to prepare for writing, the structure of a reflection paper, writing tips and techniques, and common challenges and solutions.

Importance of Reflection in Nursing Practice

Reflection in nursing practice is essential for several reasons:

  • Professional Development: Reflection helps nurses to identify areas for improvement and develop their skills and knowledge.
  • Patient Care: By reflecting on their interactions and interventions, nurses can enhance their patient care strategies and outcomes.
  • Self-awareness: Reflection fosters self-awareness, enabling nurses to understand their biases, emotions and reactions to various situations. This self-awareness is crucial for developing empathy and providing patient-centered care .

nursing reflection paper

Understanding Reflection in Nursing

What is reflection, different types of reflection.

  • Reflective Practice: Involves routinely thinking about one’s work experiences to understand and improve upon them. It is an ongoing process of self-assessment.
  • Critical Reflection: Entails a deeper level of analysis , where the nurse questions and examines the underlying assumptions and values that influence their actions and decisions. This type often involves questioning the status quo and considering alternative perspectives and actions.

Theoretical Frameworks

  • Gibbs’ Reflective Cycle: This model consists of six stages: Description, Feelings, Evaluation, Analysis, Conclusion, and Action Plan. It provides a structured approach for reflection, encouraging comprehensive analysis from different angles.
  • Kolb’s Experiential Learning Theory: This theory emphasizes the process of learning through experience. It involves a four-stage cycle: Concrete Experience, Reflective Observation, Abstract Conceptualization, and Active Experimentation. This framework helps nurses understand how their experiences lead to learning and change in practice .

Benefits of Reflection for Nurses

Enhancing professional growth.

Reflection allows nurses to critically evaluate their practice, leading to personal and professional growth. It helps in identifying strengths and areas for improvement, fostering a commitment to lifelong learning.

Improving Patient Care

Through reflection, nurses can analyze their patient care practices, identify successful strategies, and recognize areas needing improvement. This continuous evaluation leads to better patient outcomes and enhanced quality of care.

Increasing Self-awareness

Reflection promotes self-awareness by encouraging nurses to examine their thoughts, feelings, and actions. This increased self-awareness helps in managing stress , building resilience, and developing better interpersonal skills.

Preparing to Write a Nursing Reflection Paper

Identifying the purpose of the reflection, personal growth.

Reflecting on personal experiences helps nurses understand their emotions, reactions, and behaviors. This self-awareness is essential for personal growth and emotional intelligence .

Professional Development

Reflection aids in identifying learning needs and setting goals for professional development. It encourages nurses to seek further education and training to enhance their skills and knowledge.

Educational Requirements

Reflection papers are often required in nursing education to assess students’ understanding of clinical experiences and theoretical knowledge. Writing reflection papers helps students integrate theory with practice and develop critical thinking skills.

Selecting an Experience to Reflect On

Significant events.

Choose experiences that had a profound impact on your practice or learning. These could be situations where you faced ethical dilemmas , complex clinical cases, or successful patient outcomes.

Challenging Situations

Reflecting on challenging situations helps in understanding how you handled stress, conflict, or uncertainty. It also provides insights into areas for improvement.

Learning Experiences

Select experiences that contributed to your learning and professional growth. This could include new skills acquired, knowledge gained, or changes in your clinical practice .

Gathering Information

Keeping a reflective journal.

Maintaining a reflective journal allows you to document your experiences, thoughts, and feelings regularly. This practice helps in capturing details that might be forgotten later and provides a rich source of material for your reflection paper.

Collecting Evidence and Data

Gather relevant evidence and data related to your reflective experience. This could include patient records , feedback from colleagues, or personal notes. This information will support your analysis and add depth to your reflection.

Seeking Feedback from Colleagues

Discuss your experiences with colleagues and seek their feedback. Their perspectives can provide valuable insights and help you see the situation from different angles.

Structuring Your Nursing Reflection Paper

Brief overview of the reflective experience.

Provide a brief introduction to the experience you are reflecting on. Include the context, setting, and key participants involved.

Purpose of the Reflection

Explain why you chose this particular experience for reflection. What are the main objectives of your reflection? Are you focusing on personal growth, professional development , or meeting educational requirements?

Thesis Statement

Present a clear thesis statement that outlines the main points you will discuss in your reflection paper. This statement will guide the structure and focus of your paper.

Description of the Experience

Context and background.

Provide a detailed description of the context and background of the experience. Include relevant information such as the clinical setting, patient demographics , and any specific circumstances that influenced the situation.

Key Events and Actions

Describe the key events and actions that took place during the experience. Be specific and provide enough detail to give the reader a clear understanding of what happened.

Personal Role and Involvement

Explain your role and involvement in the experience. What were your responsibilities and actions? How did you interact with patients, colleagues, and other healthcare professionals ?

Analysis and Reflection

Emotional responses.

Reflect on your emotional responses to the experience. How did you feel during and after the event? What emotions were triggered, and how did you manage them?

Cognitive Responses

Analyze your cognitive responses, including your thoughts, perceptions, and decision-making processes. How did you assess the situation? What were your critical thinking and problem-solving strategies?

Linking Theory to Practice

Connect your experience to relevant theoretical frameworks and concepts. How did your knowledge of nursing theories and principles influence your actions and decisions? How can you apply these theories to improve your practice?

Critical Analysis of the Situation

Critically analyze the situation, considering different perspectives and alternative actions. What went well, and what could have been done differently? What lessons did you learn from this experience?

Summary of Key Insights

Summarize the key insights and learning points from your reflection. Highlight the main takeaways and how they will influence your future practice.

Implications for Future Practice

Discuss the implications of your reflection for your future practice. How will you apply the lessons learned to improve your clinical skills and patient care ?

Personal and Professional Growth

Reflect on how the experience and your reflection on it have contributed to your personal and professional growth. What new skills, knowledge, or attitudes have you developed?

Nursing Reflection Paper Writing Tips and Techniques

Maintaining confidentiality and professionalism, anonymizing patient information.

Ensure that patient confidentiality is maintained by anonymizing patient information. Use pseudonyms or general descriptions to protect patient identities.

Ethical Considerations

Adhere to ethical guidelines and professional standards when writing your reflection paper. Be honest and respectful in your reflections, avoiding any biased or judgmental language.

Writing in the First Person

Emphasizing personal experience.

Use the first person to emphasize your personal experiences and reflections. This makes your paper more engaging and authentic.

Using Clear and Concise Language

Write in clear, concise language, avoiding jargon and complex terms. Aim for clarity and simplicity to ensure your reflections are easily understood.

Incorporating Evidence and Examples

Using real-life scenarios.

Use real-life scenarios to illustrate your reflections. Provide specific examples from your practice to support your analysis and insights.

Integrating Academic References

Support your reflections with academic references and evidence from nursing literature. This adds credibility to your paper and demonstrates your engagement with current research and theories.

Common Challenges and How to Overcome Them

Overcoming writer’s block.

To overcome writer’s block, start by free-writing your thoughts and feelings about the experience. Don’t worry about structure or grammar initially; just get your ideas down on paper. You can refine and organize them later.

Balancing Emotional and Objective Analysis

Strive to balance your emotional responses with objective analysis. While it’s important to acknowledge your emotions, also critically evaluate the situation using evidence and theoretical frameworks .

Ensuring Depth of Reflection

Avoid superficial reflections by delving deeper into your experiences. Ask yourself probing questions and consider different perspectives to enhance the depth of your reflection.

Managing Time Effectively

Set aside dedicated time for reflection and writing. Break the task into manageable sections and set deadlines for each part to ensure timely completion.

Example of a Nursing Reflection Paper on a Critical Incident in Nursing Practice

Reflecting on my experiences in nursing practice is essential for my professional development and personal growth. This reflection focuses on a critical incident that occurred during my clinical rotation in the emergency department. I will use Gibbs’ Reflective Cycle to structure this reflection, providing a comprehensive analysis of the incident, my responses, and the lessons learned.

Description

During a busy shift in the emergency department, a middle-aged man was admitted with severe chest pain. He was diaphoretic and experiencing shortness of breath. As part of the triage team, I was responsible for taking his vital signs, obtaining a medical history, and starting the initial assessment. While performing these tasks, I noticed that his condition was deteriorating rapidly. His blood pressure was dropping, and he became increasingly unresponsive.

At the time, I felt a mixture of anxiety and urgency. The patient’s critical condition was overwhelming, and I was worried about making mistakes that could affect his care. I also felt a strong sense of responsibility and the pressure to act quickly. Despite my nervousness, I tried to stay focused and calm to provide the best care possible.

The initial assessment and rapid response were successful in stabilizing the patient temporarily. However, I realized that I could have been more efficient in communicating the patient’s condition to the attending physician. Although I followed the protocol, I hesitated briefly when reporting the patient’s symptoms, which could have delayed the intervention. On the positive side, my ability to perform under pressure and my knowledge of emergency procedures were strengths that contributed to the patient’s stabilization.

This incident highlighted the importance of effective communication and swift action in emergency situations. My brief hesitation underscored the need for confidence and clarity when conveying critical information. The experience also emphasized the value of teamwork and the role of each team member in ensuring patient safety . I recognized that my initial anxiety could have been mitigated with better preparation and experience.

Reflecting on this incident, I have learned that preparation, confidence, and effective communication are vital in emergency nursing . I realized the importance of continuous learning and simulation training to improve my skills and response times. Moreover, I understood the need to trust my instincts and training when faced with critical situations.

Action Plan

To improve my future practice, I plan to engage in regular simulation training to enhance my response to emergency scenarios. I will also focus on developing my communication skills, particularly in high-pressure situations. Additionally, I will seek feedback from colleagues and mentors to identify areas for improvement and gain insights into effective emergency care strategies.

Writing a nursing reflection paper involves critically analyzing your experiences to gain insights and improve your practice. It requires a structured approach, using reflective frameworks and supporting your reflections with evidence.Engage regularly in reflective practice to continuously learn and grow as a nurse. Reflection not only enhances your professional skills but also contributes to better patient care and personal fulfillment.

If you need assistance with writing your nursing reflection paper, consider seeking help from our academic writing services . Our team of professional writers will craft a reflection that meets academic standards and effectively communicates your experience.

  • What is the purpose of a nursing reflection paper? The purpose of a nursing reflection paper is to analyze and reflect on personal clinical experiences, evaluate one’s actions and decisions, and identify areas for improvement to enhance both personal and professional growth.
  • How do I choose the right experience to reflect on? Select an experience that was significant, challenging, or particularly educational, as these will provide the most insight into your clinical practice and personal development.
  • How can I ensure my reflection paper is comprehensive? Use a structured reflective framework, such as Gibbs’ Reflective Cycle or Kolb’s Experiential Learning Theory, and provide detailed descriptions, emotional responses, critical analysis , and action plans for improvement.
  • What are some common challenges in writing a reflection paper and how can I overcome them? Common challenges include writer’s block, balancing emotional and objective analysis, and ensuring depth. Overcome these by starting with free writing, focusing on both emotional insights and objective facts, and setting aside specific times for writing and reflection.

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Nursing Reflective Essay Guide

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A nursing reflective essay is a detailed analysis describing an experience or event from your nursing clinical practice or classroom. Through reflection, you critically analyze the situation to gain new insights and identify areas for professional growth and development.

What You'll Learn

Key aspects of a reflective nursing essay

Detailed Description: Provide a vivid account recreating the experience, including the setting, those involved, Background information on the patient’s condition/needs, and the sequence of key events/actions. Self-Reflection: Thoroughly examine your thoughts, feelings, assumptions, beliefs, rationale behind your actions, and your responses to the situation at each step. Critical Analysis: Rigorously explore factors like your strengths/weaknesses, knowledge gaps, ethical issues, communication, problem-solving ability, and decision-making processes involved. Alternative Actions: Consider other possibilities for how you could have responded or additional measures you should have taken to achieve better outcomes. Key Realizations: Discuss the most significant conclusions about yourself, the situation, and patient care that you gained through conscious reflection. Future Application: Explain how you will apply these important insights and lessons to enhance your clinical practice, professional judgment, and patient interactions moving forward.

Why Write Nursing Reflective Essays?

Reflective writing provides a structured way for nurses to: Develop Critical Thinking: Analyze decisions, question assumptions, evaluate strengths/weaknesses objectively. Build Emotional Intelligence: Cultivate self-awareness, empathy, relationship management abilities. Enhance Clinical Practice: Reflect on effective communication techniques, demonstrate patient advocacy. Achieve Personal Growth: Become a more insightful, self-motivated, continuous learner. Demonstrate Professionalism: Show commitment to providing high-quality, ethical patient care.

Example: Sarah, a nursing student, described feeling overwhelmed when a patient’s condition rapidly deteriorated. She reflected on gaps in her knowledge about identifying symptoms, communication lapses with the care team, and how she froze instead of responding quickly. Her reflections allowed Sarah to research the condition more thoroughly, work on assertive communication skills, and devise a portable “code procedure” cue card so she could respond decisively despite anxiety in future emergencies.

How to Structure a Reflective Nursing Essay

There are three main components:

  • Introduction

Engage the reader by recreating the specific situation’s sights, sounds, and setting Explain why this experience was meaningful/challenging Provide relevant context like location, patient information, those involved

2. Body Paragraphs

Use a nursing reflective model or framework to deeply analyze the experience, such as: Gibbs’ Reflective Cycle

Description of the experience Feelings and thoughts Evaluation (assess what was good/bad) Analysis (make sense of the situation) Conclusion (what you learned) Action Plan (how you’ll apply lessons)

Driscoll’s Reflective Model

What? (Describe the experience) So What? (Analyze the significance) Now What? (Decide future action)

Each body paragraph should address one component, using:

Rich details to describe objectively “I” statements examining thoughts/assumptions Examples illustrating ideas Consideration of alternatives Discussion of broader issues like legal, ethical, cultural

3. Conclusion

Summarize the key points and personal insights Explain how this experience has shaped your professional nursing philosophy Discuss how you will apply these specific lessons going forward to improve clinical practice

Tips for an Insightful Reflective Essay

Use first-person perspective and honesty about your thoughts/mistakes Move beyond simple description to explore the deeper “whys” Don’t make judgments or assumptions; question and analyze them Maintain a respectful, compassionate tone about patients Incorporate ideas from nursing theory , philosophy, or research Use examples from experience to illustrate points Be thoughtful about including sensitive patient information

Related Articles

Reflective Models in Nursing

Bass’s Holistic Reflection Model

Why use Gibbs model of reflection in nursing? In this qualitative study, it was demonstrated that the Gibbs’s reflective cycle is helpful in the clinical practice of MNS. It helps MNS reflect on clinical practice and translates clinical experience into a valuable experience for developing personal and professional development.

What are the six stages of Gibbs reflection? One of the most famous cyclical models of reflection leading you through six stages exploring an experience: description, feelings, evaluation, analysis, conclusion and action plan.

Why use reflective models in nursing? It allows you to recognize your own strengths and weakness, and use this to guide on-going learning. By reflection you will develop your skills in self-directed learning, improve motivation, and improve the quality of care you are able to provide.

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Nursing Reflective Essay: Examples + Useful Writing Tips [2024]

Nursing Reflective Essay: Examples + Useful Writing Tips [2024]

Do you need to write a reflective nursing essay? Whether you are a nursing student or already working, we know that you may be too busy writing papers. We’ve prepared information for you about reflection models and nursing reflective essay examples, writing instructions, and templates for the outline. This article will teach everything you need to make writing your essay easier.

So, how do you write an academic reflective essay?

What Is a Reflective Essay?

15 best reflective essay topics: nursing, nursing reflective essay examples, reflective tools and models, reflective essay writing tips, reflective essay body paragraphs, how to conclude a reflective essay.

In a reflective essay, you express your thoughts based on your knowledge, beliefs, reflections, and experiences. A reflective essay is best described as an exceptional and personal essay: you will have a lot to think about, comprehend, and explain. You have to demonstrate the feelings that you have experienced before. It should be honest. If you have any opposing thoughts and feelings about the topic, you should write them.

The peculiarity of a reflective essay, unlike an analytical one, is in the expression of thoughts based on personal experience.

How long does a reflective essay last? It’s simple. It depends on your topic and how you express your thoughts. But you have to remember that this is a highly brief type of essay, and you can do it with a few pages.

You can check out the 100% free essay samples to see it all.

What Is a Reflection in Nursing Essay?

What Is a Reflection in Nursing Essay?

Nursing involves many aspects of work, and reflection is one of the critical tools for developing professional competence and personal skills. In nursing, reflection is important because it provides all the prerequisites for further personal growth. It is a reflection that will allow you to take a broader look at your strengths and weaknesses and assess your prospects.

Think of your nursing reflective essay as a chance to reflect on your career, skills, and personality, which will lead to further improvement.

  • Empathy and support in nursing.
  • Communication with patients is one of a nurse’s most important tasks.
  • Nursing is the art of caring for the patient during illness.
  • The key is not to cause harm but to help afterward.
  • Time management in nursing.
  • The Patient’s Interests Come First.
  • Why did I become a nurse?
  • Doctor- patient confidentiality in nursing.
  • The importance of enhancing soft skills for the nurse.
  • Nursing knowledge should not be limited to narrowly professional information.
  • Reflective essay on the internship .
  • Nursing culture and ethics .
  • Deontology of nursing and its synthesis with my personal experience.
  • Nursing clinical reflection essay.
  • Nursing issues for the elderly.

To better understand what reflexivity is, let’s look at examples based on these articles:

Scientists from different fields of science invented many models to simplify the process of reflection. Below are reflection models you can use in your essay nursing writing practice.

Gibbs’ Reflective Model.

Gibbs’ Reflective Model

In 1998, Graham Gibbs introduced his reflexive model to the world. Gibbs’ model is a cycle and, therefore, excellent for analyzing repetitive experience.

It covers 6 stages:

  • Description. What happened? Don’t judge or try to conclude yet; just describe.
  • Feelings. What were your reactions and emotions? Again, don’t begin to analyze them yet.
  • Evaluation. What was good or bad about the experience? Make value judgments.
  • Analysis. Were different people’s experiences similar or different in importance?
  • Conclusions. What conclusions can you draw in a general sense from this experience and your analysis? What conclusions can you draw about your particular, unique personal situation or way of working?
  • Personal action plans. What steps are you going to take based on what you have learned? What are you going to do differently in this situation next time?

Dewey’s Reflective Thinking Model

John Dewey believed that reflective thinking is the active, persistent, and careful evaluation of a belief or assumed form of knowledge, the grounds for that knowledge, and the additional conclusions to which knowledge leads.

John Dewey’s Reflective Model was one of the first and has been the foundation for many other models. He identified five steps of reflective thinking:

  • Step 1: Identify the problem.
  • Step 2: Investigate the issue.
  • Step 3: Generate several possible solutions.
  • Step 4: Evaluate the options and select the best answer from the combination of solutions.
  • Step 5: Test and implement the solution.

Kolb Reflective Model

The Kolb Reflective Model or “Kolb cycle” focuses on transforming information into knowledge. The basic four steps of the Kolb model are as follows:

  • Concrete experience. Anyone should already have experience in the field or area they want to learn.
  • Observation and reflection . This stage implies analyzing the person’s experience and knowledge .
  • Forming abstract concepts . A model describing the information and expertise is built at this stage . Ideas are generated, interrelations are made, and new information is added concerning how everything works and is arranged.
  • Testing in new situations . The last stage implies experimentation and testing the model’s applicability and concept . The result of this stage is a direct unique experience. Then the circle closes.

Schön Reflective Model

Donald Schön’s reflexive model was described in the book ‘ The Reflexive Practitioner .’ He explained how professionals solve problems with a kind of improvisation that is perfected through practice.

Schön’s reflective model , like his writings, is based in many ways on the Dewey we already know

  • Action reflection involves reflecting on an experience you have already had or an action you have already taken. It involves considering what could have been done differently and the positive aspects of that interaction.
  • Reflection in action involves reflecting on your efforts as you make them and considering issues such as best practices throughout the process.

Bouds Reflective Model

David Bouds paired with Schön to explore the limits of reflective practice. This model is based on learning by doing. By analyzing his own experience, the practitioner begins to understand better how to improve certain things.

Bouds suggests that by reflecting, a person may be unconsciously learning. In reassessing the events of his life, he systematizes and classifies emotions, ideas, and results, as well as results, and compares past goals with results.

Past experiences, experiences, and ideas require constant analysis attention to feelings. This leads to new perspectives, commitment to action overall positive changes in behavior.

Driscoll reflective model.

Driscoll Reflective Model

John Driskoll proposed a simple model of reflection at the beginning of the 21st century. It involves reflection through extended answers to questions we are already familiar with. The scholar linked the three basic questions to the stages of the experiential learning cycle and then added trigger questions that must be answered to complete the process of reflection.

Step 1: What? Sets out to recall what happened as objectively as possible, without criticizing anything that happened

  • What exactly happened?
  • What exactly did you do?
  • Was anyone else involved?
  • Was it a good experience? Or a bad experience? Or both? And why?

Step 2: So what? It requires you to slow down and start looking for patterns or meaningful moments. The key here is to bring in concepts that help shed light on what is going on.

  • How did you feel at that particular moment?
  • How did you react?
  • Why did you react that way?
  • Did you feel the same way about the situation then as you do now?
  • Did you experience conflict with your values?
  • Do you think past cases influenced your experiences in this situation?
  • Who else was involved in the situation? How did they feel? And how did they react? And why did they react that way?

Step 3: Now what? Encourages beginning to transfer new knowledge into future situations and other contexts.

  • What did you learn from reflecting on this situation/experience/incident?
  • Could you have prevented the negative consequences?
  • And how might you have done so?
  • What would you have done differently if a similar situation arose in the future?
  • What could you have done to better prepare for it?
  • Where did things go wrong last time, and what would you focus on now?

5R Framework

The 5R Framework was developed in 2002 by a group of scientists as a universal system of reflection, later modified.

It focuses on five basic steps, each addressing one aspect of reflection. Thinking through the five stages, an individual will engage all of the major reflection components, allowing you to create a critically meaningful review based on your experience.

  • Report. What do you see and hear? Write it all down.
  • React. What do you think is happening? What works well and what doesn’t? How do you feel about the situation you are reflecting on? What is it about this situation that makes you feel this way?
  • Relate. How do my perceptions of this situation relate to my personal and professional experiences? How do they relate to my knowledge and skills? Through what “lens” do you view this situation? From the perspective of classroom management or collaborative learning? Do you need professional development in terms of content knowledge?
  • Reason. Do you relate your point of view to someone else’s and how it affects the situation? Does sound practice support your strategies, or do you use different approaches? How does your point of view affect how you understand the problem? Could another point of view be helpful?
  • Reconstruct. What did you learn from this observation, and how will it affect your practice?

CARL framework

The CARL framework of reflection involves going through four stages: context, action, results, and learning. The vastness of this model gives a lot of information, and even at the first stage, you can already get a lot of valuable data. But this is also its main disadvantage because it makes the model more complex.

The framework has four steps:

  • Context : Description of the context of the experience.
  • Action : Explanation of the action taken.
  • Results : Explanation of what your actions led to.
  • Learning : Identification of the experience and knowledge gained.

Now that we’ve covered the basic concepts let’s write a reflective nursing essay.

Reflective Essay Outline

How to make a reflective essay? First, write an outline.

Any reflective essay is a statement of thoughts about something, and the outline acts as a sketch in which you write them down. Creating it is the first step to creating high quality and vivid essay.

What would make a good outline structure for a reflection essay? Structure all your knowledge. Write what you want to see in the introduction, body, and conclusion.

Here is the reflective essay outline template:

  • Hook: Use a catchy statement to set the tone and introduce the article.
  • Mention the main points.
  • Thesis statement: Include all the important points and ideas in one statement.
  • Topic sentence: Carefully explain the first idea in one sentence.
  • Proof of topic or idea: Use authoritative sources to support the idea.
  • Idea analysis: Apply logic and rational thought to the idea and information from the source.
  • Topic sentence: Carefully explain the second idea in one sentence.
  • Topic sentence: Carefully explain the third idea in one sentence.
  • Repeat the statement of the thesis.
  • Review the main ideas
  • Final, concluding sentence

Reflective Essay Thesis

A thesis statement is a condensed version of the paper in which you must briefly explain your position. The point is for your audience to read it and understand your work.

To make a good thesis statement for a reflective essay, you need to formulate your thought on paper. To begin with, think well about the problem, and develop your attitude toward it. That’s why the thesis statement should be created after writing the outline. It is unnecessary to give everything out in advance to the reader because later, you will unfold this thought more broadly.

After successfully developing the thesis statement, you can proceed to the actual writing.

And so, below, you can see examples of the reflective essay introduction and conclusion. Learn what its body of it is.

How to Start a Reflective Essay? Examples

You need to start any paper in the right way. How to write a reflective essay introduction? Check these examples:

  • Practice and theory do not always agree. Not all of the medical reference books that I have been able to study are fully applicable in practice. John Kimble’s case is a testament that it is often necessary to rely on them and consider the specific situation. He complained of dizziness, and the doctors advised him to get a blood iron test. The test showed that there was nothing wrong. But as it turned out later, this was an erroneous result because Kimble had eaten redfish rich in iron the day before, which temporarily raised the iron in his blood.
  • I had always dreamed of becoming a nurse, but my fear of blood robbed me of all desire to study. But still, my passion and ambition made me pull my will into a fist. I had to change and forget what fear of blood was. I lived my dream, which helped me overcome one of my fears.
  • A few years ago, I went through a severe emotional crisis. I had always dreamed of going to the University of California, as it is one of the most prestigious medical universities in the United States. But unfortunately, I failed my entrance exams, so I had to study at the university in my hometown. My failure seemed like a disaster, but now I realize it was a real blessing.

The essay’s body carries arguments, explanations of the topic, and the main body of information.

Each paragraph should begin with short introductory sentences, and the body of the sections should be divided into several parts. This will help you better structure what you have written and help the reader navigate through the text.

It is worth remembering about argumentation. There should be several things that you rely on in your position. Describe each of them in detail in a separate paragraph. Observe the semantic sequence. A mistake, in this case, will be to repeat twice the same argument in different words. It will give the reader the impression that there is nothing to say.

You should also remember about transitions in a reflective essay. Move smoothly from one aspect to another and take your time.

How to end a reflective essay? In conclusion, you should focus on pulling together all of the material, summarizing all of the points made and what you have learned. Try to include a few moments about why and how your attitudes and behaviors changed. Here are some examples:

  • Was the practice of volunteer nursing helpful to me? Absolutely! I was grateful for these weeks because I learned a lot. But most of all, I have learned my Soft skills, which will help me get used to my professional activities.
  • At that moment, I thought about who would be the priority in that situation, and I still believe it was the patient. If the same problem were to arise again, I think I would do nothing but speak up and justify my decisions. I recognize and know that time management and prioritization are essential skills in nursing, and I hope that my skills will improve with practice.
  • I reflected on how personal values can affect professional practice from the incident. Still, it is crucial to consider that the organization has its own set of values to follow, regardless of personal values. Finally, in reflecting on the incident, I was able to discuss the importance of quality assurance monitoring and health care evaluation both in general and during the incident, which allowed me to consider what conclusions were drawn from the incident and how to prevent similar situations occurring again.

So, now you have examples and an idea for writing a reflective nursing essay. Writing your paper will become many times easier and faster.

If this article was helpful, share it with your friends and colleagues!

  • Reflection toolkit: The University of Edinburgh
  • Essay Conclusions: University of Maryland
  • Thesis Statements: UNC Writing Center
  • A short guide to reflective writing: University of Birmingham
  • Outlining: Harvard College Writing Center
  • Reflective Practice in Nursing: ZU
  • Critical self-reflection for nurse education: NCBI
  • Essay Structure: Harvard College Writing Center
  • Essay Structure: UAGC Writing Center
  • General tips for academic reflections: The University Of Edinburgh
  • Reflective essays – ANU
  • Writing An Essay Title – Illinois Valley Community College
  • Nursing Essay Help: Medical Essay Writing Service in UK

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