(Branch & Paranjape, 2002, p. 1185) states reflective writing is writing which involves 'Consideration of the larger context, the meaning, and the implications of an experience or action'.
‘It is not sufficient simply to have an experience in order to learn.
Without reflecting upon this experience it may quickly be forgotten, or its learning potential lost. It is from the feelings and thoughts emerging from this reflection that generalisations or concepts can be generated.
And it is generalisations that allow new situations to be tackled effectively.’
(Gibbs 1988)
As a part of my overseas nursing programme, I was given the opportunity to present any topic of my choice on the 19th of July 2012. I was asked to do a reflective study on my experience doing the presentation.
The most commonly used model by health professionals for reflective writing is the Gibbs model. I chose this model to reflect on my presentation. My presentation was on a special program run by my Nursing home for residents with advanced dementia, called ‘Namaste Care’. Gibbs reflective cycle consists of 6steps namely , Description, feeling , evaluation, analysis, conclusion and action plan.
It encourages a clear description of the situation, analysis of feelings, evaluation of the experience, analysis to make sense of the experience, conclusion where other options are considered and reflection upon experience to examine what you would do if the situation arose again Gibbs (1988).
I chose Gibbs model as this makes us to think through all the phases of an experience or activity.
DESCRIPTION
The topic I chose ‘Namaste care’ is a programme designed to improve the quality life of residents with