The Importance of Reflection in Nursing Practice Essay

The Importance of Reflection in Nursing Practice - Essay Example This process, called a meta-cognitive process, is normally reflected in a number of our daily routines and activities. Thus when we have to attend a call from a patient in pain, what priority we accord to it will be determined by the values and beliefs we hold and how we assess the situation. Reflective learning calls for instilling of the critical nursing skills in nurses through participative and emancipative education. This in turn helps in empowering the practitioners to deal with contradictory situations. Such training implies learning continuously with regular evolutionary inputs. Daloz (1986) describes the characteristics of support and challenge and the ways in which they might combine to foster learning. He describes support as an affirming activity. When a teacher supports a learner, the teacher lets the learner know that the learner is cared about. White (1997) suggests that new knowledge and theory can be generated when a structured and analytical methodology is applied to reflect on experience. In general, reflective practices can be categorized in two types; Reflection-in-action is when someone is working, and learning at the same time i.e. being fully aware of he's doing. Reflection-on-action is learning in a simulated environment when the nursing practitioners are taught by their tutors with the help of practical. For example nursing calls for advice being offered to the relatives and friends of the patients. Nursing is a science as it requires studying the medical practices and science, but it's an art as well because working with different types of people requires an attitude of understanding the feelings and compassion. Profession of Nursing involves being well versed with the technical gadgets, bio-medical terms, clinical tests, test reports as well as psychology, since during the majority of the times, when doctors are not around, nobody from family or friend circle is nearby, a Nurse is supposed to be the bedside companion taking care of the person with all sincerity. During such times most of our behaviors represent a mixture o f influences from both implicit, subconscious activations, and conscious considerations. The profession often requires long hours of working and heavy workloads while dealing with a range of people from all walks of life. Therefore, reflection-in-action is observing the things and the surroundings from one point of view and then devising 'in-time' appropriate reflections. Therefore in my opinion the profession of nursing requires; Compassion for another's suffering and love for the feelings of their patients Very high ethical standards Commitment to their profession Good interpersonal communication ability Critical cognitive process based thinking ability Highest standards of integrity and honesty Dealing with difficult and often unpleasant circumstances Working in physically demanding and often stressful environment Continuous aptitude for learning throughout one's life. Schon (1983) therefore calls for a "reflective practicum" to be an integral part of professional education. Lamb & Huttlinger, (1989) advocates reflection has a method by which nurses can enhance their future prospects and research practices. Williams (2001) enlists the results of a survey

Indiana Geology Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words - 2

Indiana Geology - Essay Example ich are lignite, sub-bituminous, bituminous and anthracite that greatly differ in hardness and the harder the coal, the less the wetness and the more useful it is for fuel. However, bituminous coal, which has very little moisture but high heat value and is widely used in electricity generation coke making in the steel industry is the type discovered in Indiana. The discovery of Bituminous coal along river Wabash was one of the greatest findings in Indiana due to its priceless nature and this Indiana ranks number 15 in the nation’s energy affordability sixth and third in coal production and coal use nationwide respectively. Its mining began in 1830 and by 1918, it had significantly surpassed 30 million short tons that worth approximately $817 million dollars, which ranked it 8th in the nation in coal production and later reduced due to World War I. The chief mining method used in Indiana was deep mining until around 1940s when the introduction sophisticated excavation machines enabled the use of surface mining that was very cost effective. Surface mining has been very successful method contributing almost 70% of Indiana’s recent production (Indiana Business Research Centre Web). The Indiana coal is of a very great quality and has substantial distinction in chemical and physical properties. The infrastructure system especially transport system favored the mining process where there were single line and two line rail service that helped to export the coal. The rise of interest and opportunities in coal facilitated the building of infrastructure particularly in Ohio River and Lake Michigan, watercourse transfer points and equipment of main lines to help high-speed unit-trains that had big waits. There are sufficient road networks within the state to help trucking coal to their production points thus improving the economy of the state. Indiana coal has a very wide market both domestically and overseas using inland watercourse system and private terminals along