Reflection In Presentation

Feelings

                I felt disappointed and helpless. I felt that I have been left on my own and that I was not getting any support and help which I expected from being working in a group, as my colleague herself had fallen sick. Both my colleague and myself had a feeling of helplessness and irritation which was beginning to get really annoying. The initial stages of this incident engendered an awareness of uncomfortable thoughts and feelings. Boyd and Fales (1983) describe this stage as a sense of inner discomfort. While Schon (1983) calls it an experience of surprise.        

Evaluation

                The negative side of the whole experience was that I was put into a situation where I was working under stress. I was feeling very sorry for my colleague who had unexpectedly fallen sick. We were both put into a situation that was unchangeable, as we were both in a group. Instead of negotiating with our tutor about the problems we faced, we went through them ourselves, as Schon(1983) drew attention to the fact that nurses generally make decisions based on experience. The sad part of it all was that I had to really work very hard and be assertive to wards my work. At the same time, I felt really happy and content with myself because I brought the situation under control. Overall, this proved to be a positive experience that made me learn to adapt to the circumstances around me.

Analysis

                To analyse this incident, I have referred to Carper (1978) who identified four patterns of knowing, namely the empirical, the personal, the ethical and the aesthetic. I also used the Dreyfus model suggested by Benner P., in the acquisition and development of skills, which suggests that we can be both a novice and an experienced person at the same time within a situation (Benner 1982). On reflection, this is a situation I found myself in being a novice in a new  environment, but at the same time, an experienced practitioner in my own right.

                I could have demanded more help from my tutor, but that would have been pointless as we had pre-assigned groups. However, my motivation towards learning proved to be beneficial to me, as I had to get the whole presentation done all by myself. If I am pulled into a similar situation after this, I would be better prepared by negotiating with my tutor.

Conclusion

                I have found that by actually using reflection on an aspect of my experience, it has helped me to appreciate how I could I use this form of knowledge theoretically in my daily life. It has also helped me to understand difficult situations better, to alleviate anxieties  and share problems with my colleagues.

Action Plan

                If a similar situation arose, I would try to be assertive in a different way. I would try to speak to the tutor privately, although this is not always possible in close confines. Johns(1995) states that a trust in one’s own beliefs can tip the balance between decision and indecision, and that this trust can be developed through reflection.

REFERENCES

Benner P. 1982 From Novice to Expert. American Journal of Nursing. 82. 1-1008. 402-407

Boud D, Keogh R, Walker D 1985 Reflection: Turning experience into learning, London, Kagan Page

Boyd E, Fayles A 1983 Reflective Learning: Key to Learning from Experience. Journal of Humanistic Psychology, 23 (2) 99-117

Carper B  1978 Fundamental Patterns of knowing in Nursing. Advances in Nursing Science, 1 (1) 13-23

Code of Professional Conduct was published by Nursing and Midwifery Council in April 2002 and came to effect in June 2002.

Gibbs, G 1988 Learning by doing: A guide to teaching and learning methods, Oxford Further Education Oxford Polytechnic

Johns C 1995 The value of reflective practice for nursing. Journal of Clinical Nursing, 4 23-30

Schon D 1983 The Reflective Practitioner. London. Temple Smith.