Professional Development: Reflective Essay

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Reflection is very significant for effective practice and the development of professional knowledge. According to John (2010), reflection is a way to reach an awareness of how and why things have occurred. Ghaye and Lillyman (2010), said it’s a transformative process that changes individuals and their actions. Reflection may be a way of examining your experience to appear for possibility of the opposite explanations and alternative approaches to doing things. Howatson-Jones (2013), said reflection is not unusual as we can reflect anywhere, for example in a train, car, in a bath, when exercising, cooking, or when we have any chance or time to ourselves to think. When reflecting, I put 6c into consideration knowing that reflective practice is very important in continuously improving the standard of service provided because it helps you keep a check on yourself by evaluating your performance, recording and tracking your progress, and seeking people’s feedback.

Self-awareness: Seager (2012), said it is the power to look at ones thoughts and motivations. Having knowledge of our mind which helps in growing emotional resilience. Its vital that we learn the way and become conscious of how we react when stressed or under pressure as this helps us to achieve better control over those reactions. (www.mentalhelp.net)

Emotional resilience: Dr. Harry (2018), in his book defined Emotional Resilience as our individual capacity to deal with adversity in life. The word resilience comes from the Latin word resilient, which suggests to bounce back or recoil.

To reflect on my very own learning and development in relation to the module by considering my very own self-awareness and emotional resilience as part of this discussion, I will be able to use the Gibbs Reflective Cycle (1988), as a framework for caring conversation and therefore the outcome of my learning since Gibbs cycle is tailored from a framework for experimental learning with inquiries to provide structure for caring encounters experience to be reflected on. In other to preserve the patients confidentiality, I will address the patient in my scenario as Tim.

Situation: I went with my assessor to have a caring conversation with a patient who self-harms and is suicidal. Self-harm is an act of self-poisoning or self-injury applied by an individual regardless of motivation NICE (2011).

Analysis of feelings: I was excited, happy, and nervous at the same time even though it felt so great to be asked to assist and observe in the health promotion of a patient with a mental health problem. The conversation started out well and good enough is the fact that we have fewer people to see for the day.

Evaluation: The good thing about the meeting is I was able to observe and speak to the patient and ask a few questions about safe harm, and the bad thing is I was too emotional and not very confident.

Analysis: My assessor spent time talking to Tim and that made him more relaxed and able to express his concerns, fears, anxieties, and worries. Communication impacts the way care is delivered because it is as essential as the care itself Arnold and Boggs (2019). Showing empathy enabled trust and rapport. She was understanding, non-judgemental, and acknowledged how scared and fearful it may be for him maybe his failure to commit suicide. Effective communication reduces complaints and increases self-confidence as well as enhances patient experience Ali (2017). By active listening, I and my assessor showed we were willing and ready to talk and listen. I am fully aware of the communication techniques and their effectiveness and so we sat near Tim. I learned how important it is to sit on the same level rather than standing on patients because if you are sitting in a higher position than the patient, you make them feel inferior or they feel that they are being told off.

Evan et al (2014), noted talking about health issues with little knowledge limits the depth and nature of the conversation. Evans states that when talking to a patient about health issues, you wish to consider how you will interpret technical language or jargon into language that is easily understandable and clear. My assessor is confident and knowledgeable about the issue at hand which made it easier for us to provide complete information and advice to him. She checked if there were risks to Tim’s safety or the public and was fully aware of the duty of candor. NMC (2015). As Tim wants help and advice, I with the assistance of my assessor using a person-centered plan agreed with Tim on ways to come back up with a safety plan for him. According to Professor Gillian (2016), it is important that a culture of shared higher cognitive process is embedded into clinical practice. We displayed professionalism all through and accountability which is open to challenge and able to show how we were able to make clinical decisions and care provided Reed and Dix (2018). What strengthens trust between patients and health care professionals is the principle of confidentiality RCN (2016).

At the end of the interaction, I recorded in detail our conversations from start to end and my observations bearing in mind the NMC code on record keeping which highlights that inadequate and inappropriate record keeping negatively affects the general well-being of care.

Conclusion: I and my assessor were able to carry out an effective assessment check and caring conversation. we prioritized our workload and were able to spend enough time with Tim, being aware that lack of time, workloads, and busy schedules can influence communication.

Action plan: In other to enhance the standard of future communication, I should continue with the standard of communication strategy I displayed and develop my confidence. Observing my assessor inspired me and in the future, I want to be confident and knowledgeable like her. I would need assessor feedback, tutor feedback, and self-assessment to checkmate my progress.

Through reflection, I now feel very confident and can now appreciate and value the importance of my past experience. Working to improve myself and involving in-patient care to help me achieve my goal of becoming a nurse.

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