Reflective practice 1: aims, principles and role in revalidation
- Agnew, Thelma
In this article…
The importance of reflective discussion
Why some registrants struggle to engage with reflective activities
Recommended changes to the reflective elements of revalidation
Key points
Reflective practice is one of the most valued elements of revalidation
Reflection allows practitioners to make sense of a situation and understand how it affects them
Practitioners can use this to identify areas for learning, share and learn from other professionals and improve the care they give to patients
Reflection can be used not just to change individual practice but to prompt wider change in organisations
Reflective practice requires time and effort to make it more than a tick-box exercise
Abstract Reflection is an essential building block of revalidation and an opportunity for practitioners to understand and learn from their experiences to improve their practice. This article - the first in a three-part series on reflective practice - sets out the basic aims and principles, along with the need to make it more than a paper exercise, so nurses can use it to improve the care they give to patients.