Critical Reflective Report on Dementia using Kolb's Cycle

This report analyzes a case of dementia using Kolb's Cycle. It discusses the four phases of the cycle and how they can be applied to handle patients with dementia effectively.

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Nursing practice
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Critical reflective report on dementia using the Kolb’s Cycle
INTRODUCTION
The Kolb reflection cycle was developed by one David Kolb back in 1984.This theory
usually work on two levels that include that include a four stage cycle of learning as well as the
four separate learning styles. Most of this theory is however concerned with the learners’ internal
cognitive processes. According to Kolb, learning involves acquiring abstract concepts which can
be applied flexibly in different circumstances (Husebø, O'Regan, & Nestel, 2015). The Kolb’s
cycle has four phases that include concrete experience, reflective observation of the new
experience, Abstract conceptualization and finally active experimentation. In this assignment, a
case of dementia will be analyzed using the Kolb’s cycle or rather the four phases.
Experience
While I was on my routine clinical placement during my first year of my nursing
program. I once came across a patient suffering from dementia. Dementia is a condition in which
there is decline in the manner the brain functions and this negatively affects the way an
individual performs his or her daily activities. Dementia is characterized by the loss of memory.
And it is caused by injury to the cells of the brain. Alzheimer’s disease is the most common form
of dementia followed by the vascular dementia which is due to stroke. As the only nurse around
therefore, I started inquiring some important cues from the patient. I was asking him about his
medical history and that of the family. I also asked him how long he has exhibited the symptoms
and if there have been general improvements or not. However, I realize that the patient could
only answer my questions sparingly. So I thought maybe the patient was just being rude to me or

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he did not like my personality at all. I realized that the patient could not even write his own
name.
Reflective observation of the new experience
Little did I know that I had over expectations on the patient’s condition. I never knew
that the patient was suffering from dementia from his aggressive behaviors. Dementia is a
condition in which there is loss of memory. The loss of memory is due to the fact that the brain
cells are injured. As a result, there is impairment in the manner in which neurons pass across
information and this makes it difficult for the patient to have memory loss. The memory loss can
be very severe up to the point that the patient cannot even write his or her name properly.
Abstract conceptualization
One week after discharging the patient, he still came back with the same condition and I
therefore asked the nurse in charge who was present on how to effectively handle such a patient
suffering from dementia on how I could handle him effectively. The nurse in charge told me that
I have to be very patient enough when handling patients with dementia. The nurse in charge also
told me that use of visual aids are important as they can joggle the minds of the patient to
remember some things. About the aggressive behavior, the nurse in charge told me that I should
not worry as the patient cannot turn violent.
Active experimentation
I was very well prepared just in case I get another patient suffering from dementia. I
would use visual aids like blackboard with very appealing images as well as charts to joggle their
minds .Besides, I would be very patient enough through our communication and rarely would I
interrupt the patient when they are communicating.

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References
Husebø, S. E., O'Regan, S., & Nestel, D. (2015). Reflective Practice and Its Role in
Simulation. Clinical Simulation in Nursing, 11(8), 368-375.
doi:10.1016/j.ecns.2015.04.005