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Developing reflective practice
Developing reflective practice involves asking yourself what worked, what didn't, and what you would change for a better outcome in a particular situation. By effectively assessing your own and other's practice, you will gain new skills and knowledge as a nurse.
Latest articles
A palliative care placement taught me never to prejudge specialties
When I discovered that my second clinical placement as a first-year nursing student was on a palliative care ward, I was horrified. A fellow student told me how he had spent the entire time on his palliative care placement changing pads, and felt as though he had learned nothing.
Nurse training in Italy was tough but it taught me the essence of care
In my final year of nurse training, I spent eight months in Italy as part of my degree in European nursing.
A palliative care placement taught me never to prejudge specialties
When I discovered that my second clinical placement as a first-year nursing student was on a palliative care ward, I was horrified. A fellow student told me how he had spent the entire time on his palliative care placement changing pads, and felt as though he had learned nothing.
Dummy run
The number of acutely unwell patients in UK hospitals is greater than ever. These patients are liable to deteriorate quickly, with potentially fatal outcomes. The early detection and management of deterioration is crucial to ensuring patient safety.
Effective teamwork resulted in the best outcome for everyone
I was on a placement in a rheumatology clinic and was helping to look after a patient who had been given a local anaesthetic and a steroid injection as part of a procedure.
Fear of litigation will not stop me from helping people outside work
While on a two-week holiday in California an incident occurred that made me think about my professional and moral duties as a first-year nursing student.
How to develop your reflective practice
Student nurses should use reflection to analyse their reactions and devise strategies for dealing with situations in the future.
I learnt that well-meaning acts can act as barriers to family bonds
It is not uncommon for babies born with congenital heart defects to have problems with breastfeeding, and Abraham's condition meant he had difficulty breathing while feeding orally. He was therefore fed enterally via a nasogastric tube, which was placed in his nose to deliver the feed to his stomach.
Keep a well-kept reflective journal
Student nurses should have a well-kept reflective journal if they want to stay focused on their practice , says Karen Elcock .
Keep calm and carry on
Kath Sharples believes students can use the summer holidays to reflect and plan for the year ahead.
Managers have a duty to support staff with mental health problems
As someone in their mid-thirties on their second career, I chose mental health nursing because I was eager to help people with mental health difficulties.
Nurse training in Italy was tough but it taught me the essence of care
In my final year of nurse training, I spent eight months in Italy as part of my degree in European nursing.
Courses & Careers
This section offers practical and professional advice at every stage of your nursing career.
The RCN Publishing Company is a wholly owned subsidiary of the Royal College of Nursing, the world's largest organisation for nurses. RCN Publishing produces one weekly, eight monthly and two quarterly nursing publications. Nursing Standard, the flagship journal, is the UK's biggest selling weekly for nursing. It is produced by RCN Publishing Company along with a suite of specialist nursing journals - Cancer Nursing Practice, Mental Health Practice, Learning Disability Practice, Nursing Children and Young People, Nursing Management, Emergency Nurse, Nursing Older People, Nurse Researcher and Primary Health Care. RCN Publishing Company also produce the RCN Bulletin, a major source of up-to-the-minute information for RCN members in all specialities, grades and working environments. With the latest nurse vacancies from trusts nationwide, it has become the most cost-effective nurse recruitment magazine available.