Reflection in Professional Nursing Practice Thesis 2022

Running head: REFLECTION IN PROFESSIONAL NURSING PRACTICE
REFLECTION IN PROFESSIONAL NURSING PRACTICE
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1REFLECTION IN PROFESSIONAL NURSING PRACTICE
Introduction
Critical reflection, critical thinking and evidence-based paves the way for enlightening
professional nurses on their personal strengths, weaknesses and scope for future improvement.
Important examples of critical thinking and reflection in nursing include usage of
incorporation of evidence-based research and supervision from senior colleagues in nursing
interventions, as recommended by Standards 1 and 2 of the Nursing and Midwifery Board of
Australia (NMBA)
Thesis Statement: Personal reflection and usage of evidence-based practice coupled with
critical thinking, are essential nursing responsibilities and form the crux of ensuring long term,
positive health outcomes and satisfaction across patients and families.
This essay will discuss on importance of critical and the role of a nursing action plan and
personal reflection for future improvement.
Body
Description
An elderly patient of 97, lost her life after a nurse intravenously administered crushed
powders of tablets. Such an incident clearly demonstrates, a lack of evidence based critical
thinking and personal reflection (Bibby, 2019).
The incident occurred, after the elderly patient, was finding it difficult to swallow her oral
medications. This resulted in the accused nurse to powder the medications and injecting it
intravenously. This demonstrates a lack of critical thinking considering that the nurse proceeded

2REFLECTION IN PROFESSIONAL NURSING PRACTICE
with such as act, without any form of supervision or communication (Bibby, 2019). Professional
interpersonal communication must be adhered to obtain a credible second opinion directed at the
best interests of the patient (Snowdon, Leggat & Taylor, 2017). Nurses must also reflect on
their actions since it provides allows for scope for rectification (Pai, Ko, Eng & Yen, 2017).
Thus, this incidence demonstrates the importance of critical thinking and nursing
reflection in the prevention of adverse consequences on patients, families and organizations.
Consequences
Lack of adherence to evidence based practice, critical thinking and reflection by nurses
may result in patient death and loss of trust from the patient’s family.
According to standard 1 of NMBA (2016), nurses must engage in practice which is
critical, evidence based, and person centered and safe, in collaboration with personal reflection.
According to Friesen‐Storms, Moser, van der Loo, Beurskens and Bours, (2015), usage of
reflective evidence based practice results in implementation of nursing interventions which
credible and thus ensures prevention of errors and generates trust, satisfaction and long term
positive outcomes in the patient.
Standards 6 and 7 of the NMBA (2016) instructs nurses to implement nursing
interventions which are safe, of high quality and reciprocating patient outcomes. According to
Miraglia and Asselin (2015), nursing reflection provides scope for revision of care plan and
hence prevents adverse outcomes by ensuring deliverance of safe patient care.
Standard 2 of the NMBA (2016) dictates nurses to engage in practicing interventions
collaboratively. Aligning critical thinking and reflection with collaborative supervision improves