road accident
Reflection on a Significant Incident from Practice
Introduction
The intention of this written essay is to demonstrate an understanding of my views on the art and science of reflection and the issues surrounding reflective practice. It is based on a significant incident from my own area of clinical practice as a state registered paramedic employed by a large provincial Ambulance Service N.H.S. Trust within the U.K.
There is a discussion appraising the concept of reflection both generally, and in my particular area of practice. This is followed by an analysis of the incident using The What ? Model of Structured reflection suggested by Driscoll (2000).
A rationale is given for the selection of this particular incident and also for the selection of the chosen model as a framework.
It will show how the model has been used to reflect on the incident, what has been learnt, and the outcome on both current and future practice.
Reflection is an active process of witnessing one’s own experience so that we can take a closer look at it. It has its foundations in the discipline of experiential learning. Dewey (1939 cited in Rolfe, Freshwater, & Jasper 2001) claimed that we learn by doing, and realising what came of what we did.
“Reflective practice is something more than thoughtful practice. It is that form of practice which seeks to problematise many situations of professional performance so that they can become potential learning situations and so the practitioners can continue to learn, grow and develop in and through their practice” Jarvis P. (1992) pp174 -181.
Johns, C (2000a) pg 34, describes reflection as a window through which the practitioner can view and focus self within the context of his own lived experience in ways that enable him to confront, understand and work towards
1
resolving the contradictions within his practice between what is desirable and actual practice.
All professionals experience physical, “hands on”
Introduction
The intention of this written essay is to demonstrate an understanding of my views on the art and science of reflection and the issues surrounding reflective practice. It is based on a significant incident from my own area of clinical practice as a state registered paramedic employed by a large provincial Ambulance Service N.H.S. Trust within the U.K.
There is a discussion appraising the concept of reflection both generally, and in my particular area of practice. This is followed by an analysis of the incident using The What ? Model of Structured reflection suggested by Driscoll (2000).
A rationale is given for the selection of this particular incident and also for the selection of the chosen model as a framework.
It will show how the model has been used to reflect on the incident, what has been learnt, and the outcome on both current and future practice.
Reflection is an active process of witnessing one’s own experience so that we can take a closer look at it. It has its foundations in the discipline of experiential learning. Dewey (1939 cited in Rolfe, Freshwater, & Jasper 2001) claimed that we learn by doing, and realising what came of what we did.
“Reflective practice is something more than thoughtful practice. It is that form of practice which seeks to problematise many situations of professional performance so that they can become potential learning situations and so the practitioners can continue to learn, grow and develop in and through their practice” Jarvis P. (1992) pp174 -181.
Johns, C (2000a) pg 34, describes reflection as a window through which the practitioner can view and focus self within the context of his own lived experience in ways that enable him to confront, understand and work towards
1
resolving the contradictions within his practice between what is desirable and actual practice.
All professionals experience physical, “hands on”
References: Burnard, P. Chapman, C.M. (1988) Professional and Ethical Issues in Nursing: The Code of Professional Conduct: Chichester; J Jarvis, P. (1992) Reflective practice and nursing, in Nurse Education Today, Vol 12, No.3 pp 174 - 181 Johns, C (2000a) Becoming a Reflective Practitioner; Oxford: Blackwell Science Ltd Johns, C. (2000b) Becoming a Reflective Practitioner: Oxford: Blackwell Science Ltd Procter, B. (1986) Supervision: a co-operative exercise in accountability: Routledge U.K Rolf, G., Freshwater, D. and Jasper M. (2001) Critical reflection for nursing and the helping professions: a users guide Roth, P.A. (1989) What is reflective practice? (Internet) Available from http://www/lovehealth.org/tools/reflection2.htm (accessed on 21 December