Table 1 Instruction guidelines for diabetes specialist nurses in writing reflection notes while undertaking an advanced nursing education program
Study start | End of study |
|---|---|
Describe 1–2 specific clinical situations in which you had the opportunity to function as a diabetes specialist nurse. Think of a patient or a user with whom you have been in contact who has a problem or a need that requires your expertise as a diabetes nurse specialist. xYou may describe a situation that had successful outcomes or one in which the outcome was not so successful. | You have previously described a clinical situation in which you had the opportunity to function as a diabetes specialist nurse. |
You are now being asked to return to the same clinical case you have previously described and to reflect on this situation based on the knowledge you have obtained as a student in the first year of the nursing education program. It is not always easy to know how one would experience a given situation a second time, but we would like you to reflect as much as possible on the issues below and to describe what you consider would be most realistic for you now if you were to experience this situation again. | |
Part 1 | Part 1 |
Briefly describe the patient or user and his or her life situation (make it anonymous). | The same case described previously. |
Describe the patient’s problems or needs. | |
What happened or is happening with the patient or user in relation to the problem or need? | |
When did the problem or need arise? | |
Who was involved in the situation when the problem or need arose? | |
In what way or ways were or are you involved in the problem or need? | |
What action was carried out in relation to the problem or need? | |
How do you evaluate the help that the patient or user was given? | |
What were or are the most obvious nursing and health challenges concerning the problem or need? | |
What would you do differently if you faced the same situation again? | |
Part 2 | Part 2 |
What are the specific factors in the situation you have described that make it important for you as a diabetes specialist nurse to be involved? | What would be your thoughts concerning this same situation now that you have undertaken the diabetes nursing education program? |
What was it specifically about the situation(s) or the patient or user you have described that made it a source of learning for you? | How would you feel in this same situation now that you have undertaken the diabetes nursing education program? |
What did you learn from the experience you have described? | How would you act in this same situation now that you have undertaken the diabetes nursing education program? |
What would be similar and why? | |
What would be different and why? | |
Part 3 | Part 3 |
In which areas do you feel you need to develop your own professional and personal expertise? | In what ways has being a student in diabetes nursing education influenced your competence as a professional and also you as a person? |
What specific goals do you have for acquiring the learning you need to further develop your expertise as a diabetes specialist nurse? | |
What do you feel you need to achieve these goals? |