NUR3499 - Transition to Professional Practice Clinical Reflection

Task Instructions

Identify a clinical event that you have encountered during your NUR3499 professional experience placement concerning PROFESSIONAL COMMUNICATION. Using the Gibbs Reflective Cycle (Gibba, 1988) as a guide, reflect on your chosen clinical event. Your reflection can be related to a positive or negative clinical event. Analyse the clinical event, linking with your experience, practice, and related theory.

In addition, your reflection should address -

1. Your level and understanding of knowledge related to the clinical event/situation
2. How the clinical event/situation has increased your understanding of the role, linking to NMBA Standards, code of conduct, ethics and scope of practice of the registered nurse in Australia
3. Where you believe you need further development and/or learning.

Guidelines structure

The clinical reflection is to contain the following sections based on the Gibbs Reflective Cycle (Gibbs, 1988):

1. Description / Introduction 

   1. The introduction is a description of your chosen clinical reflective topic and an overview of the critical areas of your intended discussion (Describe here what happened).
   2. Do not include any confidential information including where and when you attended placement and any person’s name.

1. Personal and Professional self-reflection 

   1. This is a self-reflective discussion and includes your thoughts and feelings (How did this situation make you feel? What did you think at the time? Do your emotions beliefs and values have any impact?)
   2. This section must provide a comprehensive discussion of the key areas you feel important to you as a novice clinician based on your chosen topic.

1. Evaluation 

   1. How is your clinical reflection supported or refuted by the literature?
   2. What was good or not so good about the experience?
   3. The evaluation section must be supported using contemporary, credible literature.

1. Analysis

   1. This is where you make sense of what happened using theory and wider context to develop understanding.
   2. How does your experience compare to best practice literature?
   3. What guidelines/nursing standards/codes of practice can help make sense of this.
   4. What might have helped or improved the situation? Needs to be based on current best practices.
   5. The analysis section must be supported using academic or contemporary, credible literature which is referenced correctly.

1. Conclusion

   1. This is Gibbs’ reflective cycle conclusion, not the conclusion to your essay.
   2. What have you learnt? Be specific here, be careful to not include more descriptions of the event.
   3. Having learnt something new, what strategies of practice will you use to develop your nursing practice? Be specific, how exactly will you change your practice?
   4. What skills will you need for your strategies to be successful and develop your nursing practice? Again, be specific, how will you change?
   5. What could/should you have done anything differently?

1. Action Plan/ Strategies for practice 

   1. Where and how will you use your new knowledge?

How will you adapt your actions and improve your skills? Use literature to support

This model is a good way to work through a placement experience. This can be either a stand-alone experience or a situation you go through frequently, for example meetings with a team you must collaborate with. Gibbs originally advocated its use in repeated situations, but the stages and principles apply equally well for single experiences too. If done with a stand-alone experience, the action plan may become more general and look at how you can apply your conclusions in the future.

Core Assessment Guidelines

• Choose and describe a clinical communication event experienced during placement.

• Apply Gibbs Reflective Cycle (1988) for structured analysis.

• Integrate knowledge of NMBA standards, codes of conduct, and ethics.

• Highlight professional responsibilities of a registered nurse.

• Identify gaps in learning and outline strategies for future development.

Mentor’s Structured Guidance for the Assessment

Stage 1: Recounting the Clinical Situation

Students are advised to present a clear description of the chosen clinical event while maintaining confidentiality. The emphasis is on the communication challenge or success and its relevance to nursing practice.

Stage 2: Exploring Personal Reactions

In this step, students reflect on their thoughts, feelings, and values during the event. This highlights how personal beliefs and attitudes may influence professional interactions.

Stage 3: Assessing the Outcome

Here, students evaluate what went positively and negatively in the situation. They compare their experience against research, theory, and professional standards to understand strengths and limitations.

Stage 4: Deep Analysis of the Event

This stage focuses on linking practice with theoretical frameworks, NMBA standards, codes of ethics, and conduct. Students critically analyze whether their communication aligned with evidence-based nursing practices.

Stage 5: Drawing Key Conclusions

Students summarize their learnings by identifying what could have been done differently and the essential communication skills required to improve patient care.

Stage 6: Planning for Future Practice

Finally, students design a personal development plan that includes:

• Evidence-based communication strategies.

• Professional skills to be enhanced.

• Methods to ensure continuous improvement in nursing practice.

Reflections and Learning Outcomes

By completing this assessment, students demonstrate the ability to:

• Engage in critical reflection using Gibbs Reflective Cycle.

• Apply NMBA standards and ethical frameworks in clinical practice.

• Recognize personal strengths and areas requiring growth.

• Develop an action-oriented strategy for future professional development.

This reflective approach not only strengthens clinical communication but also builds a strong foundation for ongoing professional practice as a registered nurse.

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