REFLECTION IN ACTION 2

Running head: REFLECTION IN ACTION 1

Reflection in Action

United States University

Reflection in Action

According to Caldwell and Grobbel (2013), “reflection is a vital attribute for the development of healthcare practitioners” (p. 319). They assert that nurses who engage in reflection throughout their careers offer better nursing care compared to those who do not. In this regard, I will start the practice of reflection as a student so that by the time I finish my course, this will be a habit that will make me be an excellent health practitioner. In this paper, I reflect on three major topics that I have learned in this course. This reflection will enable me to examine my experiences and lessons gained in the course, which in turn will aid my professional development.

Evidence-Based Practice

In nursing, evidence-based practice (EBP) refers to an integration of clinical expertise, evidence from research, and the preferences of a patient (Mackey & Bassendowski, 2017). This comprehensive practice enables healthcare practitioners to offer individualized care to their patients. When using EBP, nurses commence by establishing a clinical question that reveals the problem being dealt with, one must then gather, analyze, and apply evidence to the healthcare practice. An assessment of the result is then conducted. I believe that EBP is an essential element of nursing as it benefits all the stakeholders involved in healthcare.

For starters, patients have a say in how they prefer their treatment to be facilitated. Nurses make decisions that are well-founded on research to offer healthcare services. More so, they stay updated on the latest trends of healthcare. Finally, healthcare organizations are able to use fewer resources in offering healthcare. In turn, there are better healthcare outcomes for the whole population. As a healthcare practitioner, I will always use EBP in my practice and constantly refresh my knowledge to understand new practices.

Jean Watson’s Theory of Human Caring

This theory asserts that “humans cannot be treated as objects and cannot be separated from self, other, nature, and the larger workforce” (Watson and Woodward, 2010, p. 351). The theory emphasizes the significance of care in healthcare to achieve desirable outcomes for both the care giver and the patient. Consequently, it reveals ten carative factors that healthcare practitioners ought to consider in their practice. I believe that this theory is crucial in my future practice as a healthcare practitioner. From what I have learned in this course, I believe that this theory is highly relevant in the workplace environment of nurses, which tends to be frustrating due to various reasons.

The theory is vital in propagating care at the workplace, which in turn offers the nurse practitioner peace of mind. Additionally, I believe that caring is a fundamental quality of any nursing practice. Since nurses are centrally placed in the healing process of the patients, they are the ones that interact the most with the clients. Therefore, they have to display a high degree of genuine care for their patients if they are to achieve desirable healthcare outcomes. Overall, the theory of caring offers immense benefits at both the professional and personal level for nurses. It not only asserts the importance of caring for patients but caring for the nurses themselves. Once the nurses care for themselves, they are better placed to offer excellent services to their patients.

Ethics in Research

In nursing, ethics is crucial not only in facilitating safety for patients but for healthcare practitioners as well. According to Haddad and Geiger (2019) “ethical values are universal rules of conduct that provide a practical basis for identifying what kinds of actions, intentions, and motives are valued.” From the course experience, I believe that ethics is an integral part of nursing research. It is crucial that nurses behave in an ethical manner that meets the ethical standards of the profession and guide their professionalism as well.

There are various situations in nursing where ethics is crucial, for instance, obtaining informed consent, maintaining the confidentiality of the patient, telling the truth, and dealing with issues that conflict with the available empirical knowledge. As a healthcare practitioner, I believe that behaving and acting in an ethical manner is not only good for my profession but defines who I am as a human. Once I have strong ethical standards, it will be easier to work in difficult situations since I will have the moral compass to guide me in my responsibilities.

Conclusion

I have reflected on three major topics that I have learned in this course. I believe that this reflection has been helpful in examining my experiences and lessons gained in the course. In turn, this is vital for my professional development. Specifically, I have learned that I need to be ethical in my practice, I need to care for both my patients and I, and I need to apply EBP in my profession. This way, I will offer high-quality services to my patients and achieve desirable outcomes.

References

Caldwell, L., & Grobbel, C. C. (2013). The importance of reflective practice in nursing. International Journal of Caring Sciences, 6(3), 319-326.

Haddad, L. M., & Geiger, R. A. (2019). Nursing ethical considerations. Retrieved from https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK526054/

Mackey, A., & Bassendowski, S. (2017). The history of evidence-based practice in nursing education and practice. Journal of Professional Nursing, 33(1), 51-55.

Watson, J., & Woodward, T. K. (2010). Jean Watson’s theory of human caring. Nursing Theories and Nursing Practice, 3, 351-369.

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