Describe the importance of critical reflection as it applies to the practice setting. Explore critical reflection as it applies to the caring work of nurses and the concept of ambiguity in nursing.

Applying Nursing Reflective Practice to the Practice Setting/LEARN Format

Overview
Reflective practice is an expectation by the CNO for continuing competence and yearly registration. Critical reflection is a method of experiential learning that directs your professional performance so that you can learn, grow and develop in and through your clinical practice. Critical reflection also facilitates the development of awareness and the examination of your unconsciously held values and beliefs about nursing practice . Kemmis argues that reflection is an action-oriented process “-thinking about thinking-in which we consider the relationship between our thoughts and actions in a particular context” . The work of caring, bearing witness to others’ suffering can often leave nurses with emotional responses or ambiguous feelings that can lead to uncertainty or a feeling of not knowing what to do or say. Reflective practice offers opportunity to personally debrief caring work to rethink contexts and actions.
The LEARN format is one model used to assist you to practice with the intentional critical reflective process. You will utilize the LEARN format for reflection during clinical practicum.

Learning Objectives
By the end of this module, you will be able to:
Describe the importance of critical reflection as it applies to the practice setting.
Explore critical reflection as it applies to the caring work of nurses and the concept of ambiguity in nursing.
Develop a LEARN note directly from a clinical experience.

Student Preparation