Reflective Practice : A Guide for Nurses and Midwives

by Taylor, Beverley J.

• ISBN13: 9780335206896
• ISBN10: 0335206891
• Format: Paperback
• Copyright: 2000-05-01
• Publisher: Open University Press

Summary

"...a practical and insightful guide, richly illuminated with stories from everyday practice, to enable the practitioner to become an effective reflective practitioner. The power of Beverley Taylor's approach is to view reflection as a way of life, and not just as a technique". - Christopher Jones, Reader in Advanced Nursing Practice, University of Luton"Bev Taylor's latest work weaves a tapestry for a reflective frame as foundational to our humanity, restoring and integrating the personal with our professional life, work and experiences. This book elevates the gift of self to the level of an informed guide whereby practitioners can more clearly offer self as a hopeful healing presence to those being served. It is a hopeful framework and a healing gift to all practising nurses and midwives." - Jean Watson, Distinguished Professor of Nursing, University of Colorado, USAReflection is widely taught as a means for nurses and midwives to understand the impact of their actions and how to improve their professional practice. This practical guide shows nurses and midwives how to develop their reflective skills and how to sustain reflective practice throughout their professional lives. Taylor introduces three main types of reflection: technical, practical and emancipatory, showing readers how they can be used in different aspects of clinical work. Her work on technical reflection is original, and she explains how it can become part of evidence-based practice. She acknowledges the issues faced by practitioners in bureaucratic work settings with time constraints and regulated routines, and shows how reflection can help professionals deal with the complexity of their working lives. Readers are given a 'kitbag' of strategies they can use to get started. With great warmth Taylor describes how developing a reflective practice is part of learning how to value yourself as a nurse or midwife, and as a person. Throughout the book she provides real examples of reflective writing from nurses and midwives, and shows how these professionals have been able to improve their skills as a result of being alert to their practice. Reflective Practice is suitable for use as an undergraduate teaching text for nurses and midwives and also as a professional reference.

Author Biography

Beverley J. Taylor is Professor of Nursing at Southern Cross University, New South Wales, Australia. Author of the successful Being Human: Ordinariness in nursing (Churchill Livingstone, 1994), she is well-known for her work on reflective practice.

Table of Contents

Preface	ix
The nature of reflection	1	(21)
Introduction	1	(2)
Defining reflection	3	(1)
Sources of reflection	4	(6)
The value of reflection	10	(1)
Critical thinking and reflection	11	(9)
Summary	20	(2)
The nature of nursing and midwifery	22	(32)
Carol	23	(1)
Esther	23	(1)
Michael	24	(1)
Nursing and midwifery	24	(6)
Organisations as work settings	30	(2)
The nature of work constraints	32	(1)
Issues nurses and midwives often face	33	(8)
Some stories exemplifying issues	41	(12)
Summary	53	(1)
Getting ready to reflect	54	(24)
Knowledge of reflective practice	54	(3)
A kitbag of strategies	57	(9)
A reflective task	66	(2)
Structures for reflecting	68	(3)
Determination, courage, a sense of humour and other qualities	71	(3)
The role of a critical friend	74	(3)
Summary	77	(1)
Practitioners' reflections on their personal histories	78	(28)
Esther's reflections	78	(6)
Michael's reflections	84	(6)
Carol's reflections	90	(14)
Please note	104	(1)
Summary	105	(1)
The value of reflection	106	(24)
Reflection is valuable for all practitioners	106	(5)
Reflection is valuable for nurses and midwives	111	(5)
Learning to value yourself	116	(3)
Excuses and remedies	119	(3)
How to enhance your ability, energy, interest, time and courage	122	(6)
Summary	128	(2)
Types of reflection	130	(21)
Caution about categories	130	(3)
Knowledge in nursing and midwifery	133	(8)
Knowledge and human interests	141	(4)
Three types of reflection	145	(4)
Choosing a type of reflection	149	(1)
Summary	150	(1)
Technical reflection	151	(23)
Review of previous ideas	152	(3)
Creating the process	155	(3)
The process of technical reflection	158	(4)
An example of technical reflection	162	(2)
Applying a technical reflection process	164	(8)
Summary	172	(2)
Practical reflection	174	(20)
Review of previous ideas	175	(2)
Adapting the process	177	(2)
The process of practical reflection	179	(4)
An example of practical reflection	183	(3)
Applying a practical reflection process	186	(3)
Some discussion about practical reflection	189	(4)
Summary	193	(1)
Emancipatory reflection	194	(24)
Review of previous ideas	195	(2)
Applying the process	197	(2)
The process of emancipatory reflection	199	(4)
An example of emancipatory reflection	203	(4)
Applying an emancipatory reflection process	207	(7)
Discussion about emancipatory reflection	214	(3)
Summary	217	(1)
Experiences and reflections	218	(20)
Sharing stories	218	(19)
Summary	237	(1)
Maintaining reflective practice	238	(9)
Affirming yourself as a reflective practitioner	238	(3)
Finding support systems	241	(1)
Sharing reflection	242	(3)
Embodying reflective practice	245	(1)
Summary	246	(1)
References	247	(8)
Index	255