Nursing Reflective Account: Analysis of Critical Incidents & Learnings

This assignment presents a reflective account from a nursing student, focusing on critical incidents encountered during their clinical experiences in an orthopaedic ward. The reflection covers events such as patient injuries (ankle sprain, stress fracture) and potential risks to care workers within healthcare settings. The student analyzes their feelings and actions at the time of each incident, considers alternative approaches they might take in the future, and articulates the key learnings gained from these experiences. Emphasis is placed on the importance of effective communication, empathy, and continuous skill development in providing optimal patient care and fostering trustful relationships. The student also reflects on strategies to prevent workplace injuries and improve patient outcomes, demonstrating a commitment to professional growth and patient well-being. The document includes references to relevant books and journals.

Template

Table of Content.
Sample Template 1: Reflective Account Proforma:........................................................................1
Sample Template 2: Reflective Account Pro-forma.......................................................................2
REFERENCES................................................................................................................................6

Sample Template 1: Reflective Account Proforma:
Name
Student ID:
Day: Date:
Critical Incident / Significant Event: An accident can cause bodily harm and death of a
care worker.
How did you feel / act at the time?
As a nursing care student, I felt that within healthcare settings, there are multiple possible
risks that can negatively effect a person's body or the care workers are generally at greater
risk of having injuries while providing care to the patients.
On reflection, would you change your actions?
As a care nursing student, I would like to alter the actions which must be taken to prevent
the injuries or harms within healthcare settings. As a nursing care student, I should analyse
the reason of occurring accidents which can cause harms and injuries and then implement
the effective strategies that can help the care workers to reduce the occurrence of incidents.
What have you learnt from this incident?
As a care nursing student, I effectively learnt from the incidents that if the accidents can
happen then what possible strategies or interventions can be made to reduce or overcome the
injury or harm.
1

Sample Template 2: Reflective Account Pro-forma.
Day:
Name
Student ID Date:
Description of event / feedback / an
experience you have had: Factual:
Reflective account of the event / feedback / an
experience you have had: What have you learned
are there things you would do differently now:
Your own thoughts and feelings:
As a nursing care student, it is
identified by me that there are
various injuries which are most
often seen within healthcare workers
such as blood borne contamination,
strains, infections and many more.
The care providers are generally
more prone towards these such
harms in the healthcare
organization. It had a great
experiencing while working with
patients and co-care staff. There are
various things which I have learnt in
the care practices.
As a nursing care student, I have effectively learned
that if an accident can occur within healthcare, then
how can it will be overcome to apply the effective
strategies and interventions.
2

Name
Student ID:
Day: Date:
Critical Incident / Significant Event: A patient having ankle sprain caused due to vigorous
sports activities.
How did you feel / act at the time?
As a nursing care student, with my working experience in the orthopaedic ward, it is
identified by me that sprain in ankle can create a major pain in ankle of a person. It is known
that a sprain can occur when the ankle is forced to move out of its normal positioning, that
can cause the ligaments of the ankle to stretch. While providing care treatment to patient
having sprain in ankle, I have used my skills and knowledges so that I can able to provide
best medical care treatment to the patient.
On reflection, would you change your actions?
I would like to improve my skills and care practices rather than changing it. It is important for
the healthcare professionals to update their care practices and skills with time so that they can
effectively able to furnish care practices to improve the well-being of the patients well. When
I visualized the condition of the patient earlier, which was not good, the patient was not able
to stand properly. But, with my effective skills and care practices, the patient is able to move
and can walk more appropriately. During the care treatment, I have used my skills such as
having skilful communication with the patient which can help me to develop trust between
me and patient. It is analysed by me that having effective communication can help me to gain
trust and confidence of the patient and this can help me to provide care and treatment to the
patients as per their needs.
What have you learnt from this incident?
It is learnt by me that through having effective communication and exhibiting empathy to the
patient can help me in a positive manner. It can help me to establish a trustful relationship
with the patients such that it can effectively help me to provide the care treatment as per their
needs to improve their well-being.
3

Critical Incident / Significant Event: A patient having stress fracture which is caused due to
vigorous exercise activities (running long distance, jumping up)
How did you feel / act at the time?
As a care nurse student, I am having a working experience in the Orthopaedic ward. I had
dealt with a patient having stress fracture which is caused by having vigorous exercise
activities such as jumping ups and running long distances. It is known that the stress fractures
are mainly caused due to the repetitive forces, more frequently from overuse like as done by
patient such as jumping ups and running long distances. The stress fracture can also be
improved from normal use of a bone which is weakened by a specific condition like
osteoporosis.
On reflection, would you change your actions?
As a care nursing student, I would like to enhance my actions or care practices rather than
changing it. It is essential for the well-being care professionals to update their skills and care
practices with the time period so that they can able to foster the care practices in order to
enhance the health of their patients well. To overcome the stress fracture of the patient, I will
provide education to the patient about healthy eating, doing moderate exercise, provide use of
crutches. And if the condition is critical then I would recommend the patient to going for
further surgery.
What have you learnt from this incident?
It is learnt by the critical incident of a patient that I can effectively establish a good
relationship with the patient by exhibiting my effective skills such as integrity, empathy,
skilful communication and many more to them. Developing a healthy relationships with
patient can help me to provide a care treatment as per their needs which ultimately enhances
4

their well-being and health as well.
5

REFERENCES
Books and Journals:
Fuerst, P., Gollhofer, A., Lohrer, H. and Gehring, D., 2018. Ankle joint control in people with
chronic ankle instability during run-and-cut movements. International Journal of Sports
Medicine, 39(11), pp.853-859.
Guan, S. and Wang, Q., 2020. Observation of Ankle Sprain in the Acute Phase of Sports with
Microscope. Acta Microscopica, 29(3).
Hattori, S., Nimura, A., Koyama, M., Tsutsumi, M., Amaha, K., Ohuchi, H. and Akita, K., 2020.
Dorsiflexion is more feasible than plantar flexion in ultrasound evaluation of the
calcaneofibular ligament: a combination study of ultrasound and cadaver. Knee Surgery,
Sports Traumatology, Arthroscopy, 28(1), pp.262-269.
McDowell, R., McKendry, A., Smyth, G. and Cardwell, P., 2021. Reflection on the assessment
and care of a child with osteogenesis imperfecta. Nursing children and young
people, 33(3).
6