You are required to write about an aspect of y our PEP or an event that occurred during your clinical practice and develop your thoughts using both theoretical understandings and personal reflections. This means that you might choose to write, at times, from the First Person. You will also need to integrate current literature to explore your understandings and to clarify how this experience has further informed your understanding of your role as a mental health nurse.
Reflective practice skills are required of mental health professionals to improve and develop their therapeutic use of self. Self-assessment and ongoing learning are integral requirements of professional accountability. This responsibility extends to our peers and colleagues to assist in review and evaluation of their practice. It is important that this is achieved in an open and constructive process that achieves personal growth, provides support not criticism, and encourages inquiry and new learning.
The following model (Smyth Model of Reflection )outlines five sections that must focus on a clinical intervention that you have personally been involved in. It is your choice as to whether you choose to reflect on an interaction/ intervention with a person in your care, a staff member, or some other person connected to the person in your care. The priority is that you reflect on YOUR skills, thoughts and knowledge.
Follow the model to support your professional learning, knowledge and skill development.
1 Describe ( What did I do?)
Briefly describe the interaction, observation, or event. This does not need to be lengthy or detailed. Give the essence of the event and setting. The focus is on the interactions and actions of people. Describe only what happened. Remember to respect confidentiality and not directly identify individuals.
2 Inform ( What does this mean? (analysis))
Inform the reader of the meaning that you have made of the event. It is worthwhile examining your thoughts and questions that lead you to derive this meaning.
3 Deconstruct (How did I come to be like this? )
This step asks ‘How did I come to be like this?’. It is asking confronting questions such as what you have brought to the moment, what influences in the environment you are responding to, where your comfort level is, and what priorities you brought to this experience. Question your assumptions, beliefs, knowledge base and experience that help you deconstruct the event.
4 Reconstruct (What do my practices say about my assumptions, values and beliefs? How will I modify practice?)
How might you do things differently? Consider what knowledge and skills you would like to develop. What other personal and or material resources would assist in achieving a different outcome? What of the other people in the interaction—what are their needs? What of the location, timing and other considerations? How does current literature and research inform these changes?
5 Evaluate (What have I learned? what are my alternative views and generation of goals for future action?)
State the outcome of the process of reflection for this exercise. What has been gained and what can be improved. What would be essentially different if you had the opportunity again?
Ensure all arguments and opinions are supported by relevant literature. Referencing and in-text referencing is required using theAPAStyle author-datereferencingsystem.