Reflection Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 3250 words

Reflection - Essay Example This paper is based on an actual experience during my community placement with a patient I shall refer to as Mr. Smith (not his real name). To protect his identity and in accordance with patient confidentiality, his real name shall not be used in this reflection (Nursing and Midwifery Council, 2008). Reflective practice is the process of thinking about one’s actions in the clinical setting and taking responsibility for improving one’s professional skills. Taylor (2006) mentions that reflection allows a person to review the positive aspects of one’s actions in the clinical setting and to build on such achievements in order to identify areas which require improvement. The nursing profession is a dynamic and ever-changing profession and according to the Department of Health (DOH, 2004) and the Welsh Assembly Government (WAG, 2002), nurses have to expand their knowledge in order to improve their practice. A discussion by Jasper (2003), pointed out that knowledge gain ed from reflection fills in the gaps between theory and practice. This is crucial to nurses because continuous development is an important part of clinical governance (Royal College of Nursing, 2003). In effect, reflective practice helps improve the quality of care delivered to patients. The topic was chosen in order to demonstrate professional development in the communication skills seen in the delivery of patient care. This development would assist in evaluating patient advocacy in the multi-professional team. It would also help ensure that a nursing practitioner is able to identify the gaps in her communication skills with the patient. Gibbs, reflective cycle There are different reflective frameworks which were considered for this assignment; these frameworks also provide useful guidance in reflection. However, the Gibbs Reflective Cycle was chosen because it is familiar and helps provide a structured and simplistic cycle. Bulman (2008) however argues that the Gibbs Reflective Cy cle is too broad and it implies an incoherent reflective process. Nevertheless, this reflective cycle is the most appropriate cycle to apply because it includes specific elements of the experience which allow reflective processes to change and improve clinical practice (Johns, 2004). In establishing a framework for reflection, it is important to note that the reflective process is an intellectual and an affective experience which involves the process of exploring one’s experience in order to successfully initiate change (Bulman, 2004). It is therefore important for a reflection to lead to change in one’s behavior and clinical practice. Without adequate guidance in the process, the student or learner might not be able successfully learn from the reflective process (Benner, 1994). With the guided help of my mentors and more experienced clinical practitioners they would help ensure that I would be able to pass through the reflective process and learn from his reflection. 1. Description of the event During my placement with the District nursing team, my mentor asked me to accompany her to a gentleman’s house in order to carry out an assessment and to explain what services were available. Before the interview, I dressed professionally and appropriately, making sure that my uniform was crisp and clean and my hair was arranged properly. The referral came from his wife, and not from the patient, as the patient was recently discharged from the hospital.

Cultural anthropology Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words

Cultural anthropology - Essay Example They say it looks like a small grasshopper but is brown in color. It feeds on rice seedlings roots causing the seedlings to die so they also consider it as a pest and like other farm insects, they also eat it. I smiled because I thought that the farmer was just joking but I realized that he was serious when he continued talking. He said that they dig the mud using their feet to look for mole crickets and collect them in a container. He even added that it is best sautà ©ed with tomatoes. While hearing this, I visualized how it looked like and I cant imagine how they could eat that kind of thing. I dont know to react so I just nodded and acted like it was normal. After a while, the farmers arrived with the mole crickets they have collected. I wanted to ask why they have to eat these insects while there are a lot of normal foods to choose from but I was hesitant because it might offend them. Good thing, one farmer finally shared a story about it. He said that there was a time when one farmer has nothing to eat. Then, he thought of cooking the mole crickets he collected from his field and eating it. He liked the taste and shared the story to other farmers. From then on, they eat mole crickets occasionally, especially when they dont have anything to eat. The story-telling was interrupted when the sautà ©ed mole crickets was finally served. For me, it smelled like any other sautà ©ed food. The farmers started eating once the plate was put in the table. One farmer demonstrated how it should be eaten. He removed the insects head and then put the remaining parts to his mouth. He said that the head is the hard part and is irritating to the throat. However, other farmers prefer to just eat it the way it is. When I saw all of them eating the cricket, it felt normal to me and thought that maybe I could eat it too so I tried eating one when they offered me. Honestly, I liked it and I found myself eating it like I was used to eat