Reflective Practice in Nursing Communication

Reflective Practice in Nursing Communication This assignment looks at the study of theoretical reflection in conjunction with how effective communication skills can be developed to expand our knowledge. To achieve this I will explain what reflection practice is using models of reflection; evaluate theories of personal development what they are and how they are used. Discuss how reflective practice benefits communication skills and in turn influence our knowledge of nursing care. What is reflection? In scientific terms reflection is seen as light, heat or sound striking a surface to give off a reflection (Darlene 2006). Reflection is also seen as philosophical understanding of how one can gain knowledge through experience and use different approaches to the same scenario (ref). Reflection can be described as; meditation, deep thinking and or giving careful considerations to possibilities and opinions of a given situation (Mcferran and Martin 2008). The novel idea of reflection rose from a theorist John Dewey (1859-1952); his proposed view on reflection is described as persistent, active thinking and taking into consideration the supporting evidence that forms knowledge to the given situation. This theorist suggests that the person uses their mind and emotions to facilitate reflection (Bulman and Schutz 2008). This suggests that John Dewey describes reflective individuals has being open-minded, responsible and wholehearted (Vaugn and Leblanc 2011). Deweys perception of reflection was a platform for many authors to elaborate on in terms of understanding reflective practice. Johns and Freshwater (2005) propose that health professionals should find the meaning of reflection through description rather than definition because to define reflection is to suggest the author has authority over its meaning. This in turn allows reflections models and frameworks to be used intuitively giving a more holistic approach, it can be subjective and purpose driven (Johns and Freshwater 2005). Mann et al (2007) describes Schons (1983) view that reflection can happen in two ways: reflecting upon activities whilst they are happening called reflection in action (present reflection) and reflecting upon activities once they have happened (reflecting on the past). Reflection can also be seen as the engine that facilitates superficial learning into finding a deeper understanding that enables the practitioner to transform what is known to knowledge in action (Boud et al 1985 cited in Rolfe et al 2011). Reflection (Broad overview) Describe some of the different theories and models of reflection that are available and how they are used. Explain how reflection can aid personal development. Schon, reflection on and in action Models of reflection, Driscolls, Atkins and Murphy, Gibbs, Johns, Kolb. 750 words Reflection Model and frameworks There are many different models of reflection which seem to have similar philosophical theories attached to each approach. Rolfe et al (2011) asserts models are methodologies and frameworks are methods used to understand and give guidance on how use the chosen reflective model and models therefore are ontological this mean they have formal specifications for representing ideas and concepts that aim to improve personal growth and development. Models of reflection developed by Schon and Argyris (1992) involves three elements: (1) knowing-in-action (2) reflection-in-action and (3) reflection-on-practice (Ghaye and Lillyman 2010). Ghaye and Lillyman (2010) have extrapolated Schons work to include knowing-in-action; they propose that practitioners customise and tailor their own knowledge or theories to the situation presented. Knowing in action is described further by Carper (1978) who identifies five approaches to knowing in action; empirical, personal, ethical and aesthetic knowing ( Newton and McKenna 2009). Empirical knowing is the formation of knowledge organised into general laws and theories for the describing and predicting phenomena pertaining to nursing practice (Averill and Clements 2007). Empirical means of knowledge tends to seek out theoretical explanation which can be replicated and be publicly verifiable (Newton and McKenna 2009). Newton and McKenna (2009) further suggest that empirical knowledge can only be effective when it is interpreted within the context of given clinical situation and how it is assimilated into practitioners personal knowledge. Personal knowing described by Carper (1978) is about finding out how much we know about ourselves when faced with clinical challenges and that health care professionals may not necessarily know about the self but do strive to know about the self. Newton and McKenna (2009) state that Caper (1978) does reiterate that it is difficult to master however it is an essential in understanding nursing care. Newton and McKenna (2009) suggest that personal knowing demands a deeper level of understanding and awareness to communicate and interact with ourselves and others. This type of knowing requires the nurse to be empathic, nurse attempt to do this by developing a personal yet professional relationship between the patients as opposed to viewing a patient as an object (Newton and McKenna 2009). Moral actions and ethical choices are intertwined with personal knowing to which Carper (1978) suggests presupposes personal maturity and freedom. Ethical knowing is about the moral aspect of nursing that is concerned with making choices, making justifiable actions and judging outcomes (Newton and McKenna 2009). The main focus of ethical knowing is trained towards issues of obligations that would require rationalisation and deliberate reasoning (Carper 1992). Chinn and Kramer (2004) suggest that rational can be expressed through codes, moral rules and decision-making. Newton and McKenna (2009) assert that having knowledge of moral issues is not isolated to ethical codes of nursing disciplines for example the Code of Conduct written by the NMC (2010). Newton and McKenna (2009) assert that ethical knowing is only partly learnt through applying codes and moral rules but is more through experiencing situations that initiate reflection upon what is or has happened and how this affects patient care. Gibbs( date) Driscoll(dates)and Kolb ( date)all conjured reflective models which are each similar to one another; they are all cyclical reveals that learning through reflection about what is or what has happened is continuous cycle. Gibbs et al (1988) model please see appendix 1 (a) Do you know of any other models that perhaps dont take on such a cyclical approach†¦ consider the work of Chris Johns, Mezirow, Boud et al also†¦. How do they compare and contrast with each other? Why might one model of reflection suit one situation or context better than another?Think about which models promote single loop or double loop learning if you can. Reflective practice (Specific) Give an overview of how reflection is used in nursing. Explain its relevance to nursing and how and when it is used. Explore the concepts of reflective practice and critical incident analysis. Introduce use of reflection for personal development. CPD, self regulation. Identify the different situations where reflection can be used. Skills V critical Incidents what is a critical incident. 750 words Reflective practice is seen has using reflective techniques to improve, maintain change in clinical procedures and influence guidelines to encourage greater safety of patients in all areas of health organisations (Bulman and Schutz 2008). Health care organisations in the UK have undergone and still continue to undergo changes to how it is regulated (Rolfe et al 2011). The emphasis is largely associated with increasing patient safety and risk reduction (Rolfe et al 2011). The four main bodies in the UK; Royal College of Nursing (RCN), Nursing Midwifery Council (NMC) and General Social Care Council (GSCC) and General Medical Council (GMC) which are concerned with the controlling, training and regulating of the healthcare system in UK (Rolfe et al 2011). Evidence-based studies have taught the NHS and regulatory bodies how to change practices and procedures to create better outcomes for patients, they have also encompassed further development for staff to promote a better use of resources through continuing professional development CPD (Ghaye and Lillyman 2010). An example of this could be the pressure sore nurses taking on the responsibility of giving guidance to non-specialist nurses to take care of patients with such conditions. This could not have been achieved if it was not for reflective thinking being part of the learning process (ref). How do we use reflective practice within our day to day practice? Consider the approaches that mentors take when supporting students, look at the principles involved in preceptorship and clinical supervision†¦ Communication skills (Application) Discuss and analyse how reflection can be utilised to improve your communication skills in practice. Explore how and when you would use it. What practical steps would you take and what resources would you utilise and why. Link reflection in and on action to communication situations giving information (in), breaking bad news (on), then use of journals, models, writing, peer support. 750 words Conclusion Sum up 500 words You have made a solid start at this assignment so far and have introduced many ideas which are relevant to the topic. These themes now need to be explored in greater detail . You have a slight tendency to introduce theoretical concepts ( not all of which are uncomplicated) without fully explaining their meaning†¦. Take care to avoid this as just mentioning them does not mean that you understand them and we will be looking for evidence of understanding. You also need to pay attention to your sentence construction as there are several poorly constructed sentences noted so far†¦. Make sure that when you lift them from the text you have referred to , that you do adapt them to make sense in the context that you are trying to use them. I would like to have a look at this piece when it has been developed a bit more. You are definitely heading in the right direction though and overall have made an effective start.

Unknown Mixtures Lab Report

-Unknown Mixtures Lab- Purpose: The aim of this experiment was to find out the two substances of the unknown mixture from salt, sugar, dirt, and baking soda by looking at its properties. Hypothesis: Find the unknown substance by testing it out by heating it, pouring water, vinegar, and observing it . Procedure: 1) Materials- * 100ml of water * Vinegar * Bunsen Burner * 2 beakers * 1 spatula 2) First, do steps (3-6)to find out the properties of salt, sugar, dirt, and baking powder. 3) Observe and record the appearances of the four known substances. ) Burn the known substances one by one to see what will happen. When it starts to burn take the beaker off of the burner. 5) Add water to all substances. Make sure to stir well (until the salt and sugar dissolve) to see how each substance reacts with water 6) Add vinegar to all substances. Make sure to stir well (until the salt and sugar dissolve) to see how each substance reacts with vinegar 7) Observe your unknown substance and write down how it looks 9) Add water to the unknown substance.Check to see if it turns to mud and that the white substance dissolves. 10) Heat up unknown substance until it starts to burn. Check and see if the substance starts to turn brown and smell good and dry up and crack. This is to see if the unknown substance is a combination of dirt and sugar. Safety Precautions- * Remember to wear closed shoes just in case someone drops something like glass and it lands on your foot. * Always wear goggles, and for girls tie their hair, when near a burner so it doesn’t burn your hair or get something in your eye. Be careful not to drop the beakers so that there will be no danger of accidently stepping on glass. Observations- The sugar turned brown and smelled good when heated, salt turned black and smelled like burnt rubber when heated, dirt turned to mud when water was added, and baking soda started to bubble when vinegar was added. DATA: TABLE 1: CHARACTERISTICS OF SUBSTANCES SUBSTANCE| Chara cteristics| Appearance | Sugar| Heat: sugar turns brown and smells goodWater: sugar dissolvesVinegar: sugar dissolves| White, shiny, looks similar to sugar. Salt| Heat: turns black, smells like burnt rubberWater: dissolvesVinegar: dissolves| White, looks like sugar except it isn’t shiny| Dirt| Heat: dries up and starts to crackWater: turns to mudVinegar: turns to mud| Brown, has bits of rock and dried grass in it| Baking Soda| Heat: Water: turns water whiteVinegar: starts to bubble | White, soft, kind of like flour| These are some of the characteristics and appearances of the four known substances after experimenting (heating, adding water, adding vinegar, observing) to find their properties.This will help when trying to figure out the two substances in the unknown mixture. TABLE 2: UNKNOWN SUBSTANCE Substance| Characteristics| Appearance| Result| Unknown| Water: the substance turned to mud and the white specks dissolvedHeat: while the dirt turned hard, the white substance st arted to turn brown and smell good | * pieces of rock and dried and grass * small white shiny specks mixed in | Dirt and Sugar| This is the data collected from observing the unknown substance.From looking at table 1 and then comparing the appearance of the known substances to the unknown substance the unknown substance is the most similar to the appearances and characteristics of dirt and sugar. DATA ANALYSIS: The data collected states all the characteristics and appearances of the four known substances. This helps when trying to find the two substances in the unknown mixture. To gather the data the substances were burned, added with water and vinegar, and observed. Then with the information of the known substances was compared with the characteristics of the unknown substances.The unknown substance had characteristics similar to dirt and sugar, and so the unknown substance was experimented to check if they were really dirt and mud by adding water to see if it turned to mud and heat ing the substance to see if it would turn brown and smell good. CONCLUSION/ EVALUATION/IMPROVEMENTS: The purpose of this experiment was to find out the two substances of the unknown mixture out of salt, sugar, dirt, and baking soda. For this experiment my hypothesis was correct.The purpose of this experiment was achieved by observing and finding out the characteristics of each substance. The sugar turned brown and smelled good when heated, salt turned black and smelled like burnt rubber when heated, dirt turned to mud when water was added, and baking soda started to bubble when vinegar was added. According to table 1 the data shows that the unknown substance had similar characteristics to both sugar and dirt. And so to find out if my hypothesis was correct or not experiments were carried out based on tests that were characteristics of either sugar or dirt.One experiment was heating the unknown substance to check if it would start drying up and bubbling brown. The other was adding wa ter to test if it would turn into mud. Some mistakes that could be improved in the experiment next time is- making sure not to pour a lot of salt into the beaker when heating it, since there was a lot of salt when heating it the smell was more nastier and shocking. Also when heating the dirt not to let it burn for a long time because when washing it, it was hard to get some of the dirt off.

The Great Gatsby By F. Scott Fitzgerald - 1085 Words

On the chilly night of April 1st, a variety of different people eagerly waited in the Edward K. Daniels Theatre in Hillsboro, Ohio to meet a mysterious man named Gatsby. During the weekend of April 1st- 3rd the Southern State Community College preformed Simon Levy’s adaptation of F. Scott Fitzgerald’s The Great Gatsby a show that was anything but an April fool’s day prank. Our story begins with the arrival of Mr. Nick Caraway in Long Island, New York in the summer of 1922, when Nick unknowingly buys a summer house next to Mr. Gatsby. He never intend the events of that summer to change his life forever. His neighbor in West Egg is a mysterious man who nobody really knows, though many people like to assume they do. When Nick is invited to one of Mr. Gatsby exclusive parties, he invites his cousin Daisy and her friend Jordan. What Nick is unaware of is that Mr. Gatsby and his cousin had a past together. 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Drug Abuse Depression Relations - Free Essay Example

Sample details Pages: 6 Words: 1707 Downloads: 5 Date added: 2019/03/22 Category Health Essay Level High school Tags: Drug Abuse Essay Did you like this example? In the world we all live in drugs are all around us, whether its a dispensary or an underground drug affiliation, they are there. Another thing that is all around in society today is mental disorders, specifically depression. Depression is the leading cause of disability around the world according to statistics from the World Health Organization (WHO). WHO states that over 350 million people suffer from depression worldwide and that only about 50 percent of these individuals will ever receive treatment. In the United States, over 15 million adults experience an episode of clinical depression in any given year (close to 7 percent of the population), according to the Anxiety and Depression Association of America. Depression has a severe impact on physical and emotional wellbeing, as well as personal relationships, occupational status, and financial health. Many depressed individuals reach for drugs as a way to lift their spirits or to numb painful thoughts, this can often turn into an addiction. As a result, depression and substance abuse feed into each other, and one condition will often make the other worse. Don’t waste time! Our writers will create an original "Drug Abuse Depression Relations" essay for you Create order When an individual has both depression and an addiction, it is called a Dual Diagnosis. A Dual Diagnosis can be made up of any combination of a mental disorder (anxiety, depression, bipolar disorder, etc.) and addiction (drugs, alcohol, sex, gambling, etc.). Dual Diagnoses that include depressive disorders are among the most common forms of the problem; in fact, the Journal of Clinical Psychiatry (Dual Diagnosis) reports that one in three adults who struggle with alcohol or drug abuse also suffers from depression. If society was more aware of the damage these two complications together, then awareness could be spread saving lives all over. Depression can lead to so much more than just a mental sadness. Depression can lead to serious illnesses, it can affect the way you sleep, eat, and think overall. Physical and mental health are completely taken over when depression is present (Recovery First). Suicide is a big factor of depression or any type of physical harm, and when drugs are added to the mix everything can be worse. This is why addiction and depression both have treatments. If you know someone who is depressed tell someone, get them help before its too late. If drugs are already involved get them help, there are addiction counselors all over. As young kids reach high school curiosity and exploring is bound to happen. As kids grow up, it is known life becomes harder. Stress and anxiety can come with growing up which can be coupled with depression. Once teenagers reach high school everyone tries to fit in, if you dont do the drugs youre (nicely) considered a scaredy-cat. Then you can be bullied for that so its not often for a teenager to say no. Because of that drug use rates go up and if the depression rates are already high then the overall rate of Dual Diagnoses go up as well. Depression itself is a devastating this to handle ut image dealing with is combined with an addiction. It is a diagnosable mental illness that affects millions of teenagers every year. Especially when coupled with substance addiction, depression can devastate your childs life.(NVG). Knowing this, it is proven the rates for these problems are only on the rise. With awareness, they can be stopped and held at a minimum. Depression is more than just that is also bad thoughts. It is the way it affects the way you feel about yourself and those around you. It even affects your thoughts. People who are depressed cannot simply pull themselves together and be cured. When depressed, facts have proven that more bad decision are made since your mental stability is off. Your thought process isnt strong. Since more bad decisions are made it is important to get help. Depression itself is unhealthy but the use of substances makes it worse for the body. Depression can also suppress the immune system and weaken the body, making you more susceptible to physical ailments and chronic illness. When you add drugs or alcohol to the mix, the risks to your physical and emotional health increase exponentially. The most recent studies exploring health and major depression have looked at patients with stroke or coronary artery disease. Results have shown that people with major depression who are recovering from strokes or heart attacks have a more difficult time making health care choices. They also find it more difficult to follow their doctors instructions and to cope with the challenges their illness presents. Another study found that patients with major depression have a higher risk of death in the first few months after a heart attack. This leads to getting help. Addiction specialists and mental health clinicians view co-occurring disorders treatment as a unique field in its own right. Not only is depression and drugs considered a dual diagnosis but if depressed you are more likely for substance abuse. According to the National Institute on Drug Abuse, data indicated a connection between mood disorders (depression, bipolar, etc.) and substance abuse. These chemical intoxicants known as drugs can become a form of self-medication for soothing the feelings of low self-worth, hopelessness, and despair that characterize this psychiatric illness. Those individuals diagnosed with a mood disorder being twice as likely to abuse substances than a person without a mood disorder. The Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA)s 2014 National Survey on Drug Use and Health (NSDUH) stated that about 7.9 million adults in the United States had two simultaneous mental health issues, such as a substance use disorder and depression, in 2014 alone. Bringing in another factor to these statistics is sex. Engaging in sex and drug behaviors places adolescents, and especially girls, at risk for future depression. Future research is needed to better understand the mechanisms of the relationship between adolescent behavior and depression, and to determine whether interventions to prevent or stop risky behaviors will also reduce the risk of later depression. These survey results are only going to raise if something isnt done which is why treatment is so important. Addiction specialists and mental health clinicians view co-occurring disorders treatment as a unique field in its own right. This means that combining strategies from the fields of psychiatry and addiction treatment can lower the relapse rate among the people who are struggling, reduce the number of suicide attempts and foster a long-term abstinence, according to research gathered by the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration. If help was given to the ones in need, suicide rates, depression rates, substance abuse rates, even alcohol abuse rates would all decrease. This is important because depression is inescapable without help and addiction can be life-threatening and completely take over ones body. A little help can go a long way. There are so many hotlines to call for depression and addiction. A phone call can change someones life..save their life. Although drugs and depression combined can be threatening. On the contraposition drugs allow the body to relax from depression. Individuals reach for drugs or alcohol as a way to lift their spirits or to numb painful thoughts. This can be a good thing since depression can bring suicide or other physical and mental harms. Being able to relax from feeling bad, not good enough, or however, the depression is making the individual feel is better than using then feeling depressed. Therefore in this sense, the use of drugs is useful. But the idea of relaxing from depression is overlooking so many other issues as a result, depression and substance abuse feed into each other, and one condition will often make the other worse. In the end of feeling relaxed, you are actually hurting your body more. Whether the individual feel the use of drugs is allowing the depression to be less noticeable itll get to the point that when not off of a drug the depression can be 10x worse just by using drugs as a relief factor. People who have depression may abuse a substance in an effort to self-medicate and treat the problem. Typically, this is only a temporary solution, as the substance abuse worsens the depression over time. Drug or alcohol dependency can cause a lot of hardships across all spectrums of life, and ultimately, these hardships worsen the persons depression. For example, the comedown from cocaine and other stimulants oftentimes worsen the initial depression. It is proven that cannabis, which is a drug, is a depression reliever. Regardless of the research, some patients certainly claim cannabis is effective as an antidepressant. These patients admit that it helps them cope with life stressors and will sometimes allow them to see things in a more positive state of mind. Including the study conducted in Sweden by Edison, the results of the 45,000 individuals who participated concluded that After control for confounding factors and especially markers of disturbed behavior during childhood, there was no increased risk of future depression among cannabis users at age 18 to 20. With the large number of cases, and control for important background factors, we believe our study adds to previous findings supporting the hypothesis that cannabis use does not increase the risk of depression. While it is also proven that drugs increase depression the use of cannabis limits is. This is what is being missed, the use of cannabis, a drug, is escaping the depression as if it was a prescribed antidepressant except its not. Its an enhancement drug that makes the depression feel as if it is going away when in reality it is being covered up by a drug. A prescribed antidepressant is prescribed by a doctor to help solve depression instead of just applying drugs to it to make it feel like ti going away, or getting better. A prescribed antidepressant might still be considered a drug but it is a researched drug to solve and get rid of depressionnot cover it up by being high. The longer depression goes on with the use of substance abuse, the worse both rates will get. Addiction will only increase and depression can only rise with it. Treatments are available and should be used. This dual diagnosis can be life-threatening if not taken care of. Act now, be aware, give help, get help.