Reflective Essay: Gibbs Model and Indigenous Healthcare Interactions

This reflective essay delves into the author's experiences as a nurse interacting with Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander patients, utilizing the Gibbs Reflective Cycle and the ABCD model to analyze cultural aspects and decision-making processes. The essay highlights the challenges encountered, such as communication barriers due to language differences and the initial lack of understanding of Indigenous cultural beliefs and practices. It details the author's journey of learning and adaptation, emphasizing the importance of cultural sensitivity, continuous professional development, and the use of interpreters. The essay also explores the impact of these experiences on the author's nursing practice, discussing the acquisition of knowledge about Indigenous attitudes, beliefs, and contexts. It concludes with an action plan for improving future interactions, emphasizing the need for effective communication, respect for cultural values, and the implementation of holistic therapies to enhance patient care. The essay draws upon research articles and nursing literature to support its reflections, providing a comprehensive overview of the complexities of providing healthcare to Indigenous populations and the strategies for overcoming related challenges.

REFLECTIVE ESSAY

Table of Contents
Gibbs Reflective Cycle....................................................................................................................1
REFERENCES................................................................................................................................5

Gibbs Reflective Cycle
Reflective practice is the ability to reflect on one's actions to engage in a process of
continuous learning (Nielsen et.al. 2014). In accordance with this context, this essay will help in
providing self reflection with the help of Gibbs Reflection Model. This model was developed by
Graham Gibbs and the model is composed of six stages of cycles. In order to reflect on cultural
aspects of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people, I will use ABCD model in this essay.
Further, the impact of nursing practices on decision making process while interacting with
Indigenous people of Australia will cover in this essay.
For the self reflection, I have used Gibbs Reflection Model which was developed by
Graham Gibbs in 1988 (Reflective writing: About Gibbs reflective cycle 2017). The model
consists of six stages and the reflection will be based on those six stages. Further, in order to
acquire the impact of decision making while interacting with Aboriginal and Torres Strait
Islander people, I have used ABCD model. My interaction with the indigenous people helps in
increasing effectiveness in decision making process. In this context this self reflective essay has
been prepared by me. In order to make decisions, I have explored the attitude, beliefs, context
and decision making style of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people. For determining their
attitude, I have asked about their illness and disease they are suffering from. I have jot down
their reactions while telling them about their poor prognosis report. In order to acquire their
beliefs, I have casually interacted with patient and asked him about his family and regional
beliefs, this helps me in acquiring his beliefs and behaviour (Geia et.al. 2014).
Further, the historical and political context of indigenous patient was acquired by casual
interaction. I have asked the date and place of birth of patient, his status, the language he spoke,
etc. With the help of interpreter, I have acquired the information easily and effectively.
Moreover, I asked the patient about decision making style they implemented in their family
regarding health care. I have faced difficulties at the beginning while interacting with Aboriginal
and Torres Strait Islander patient (Buitendyk et.al. 2013). They were not cooperating at first, but
after implementing the teachings and learnings in practical situations, I have easily made
communication with them effectively and efficiently. There were multiple patients that were
suffering from different types of illness. As a nurse, it was very difficult for me to address all the
patients. With the help of other nurses and health care practitioners, I have easily addressed the
patients. Another difficulty, I faced was to explain the poor prognosis and diagnosis reports to
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the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander patients. It was a new experience for me, as I have
never treated any Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander patient in my nursing career. There were
a time where I became frustrated because language. This impact on the decision-making process
and also impacts on my nursing practices.
I felt discomfort at first while addressing the issues of Aboriginal and Torres Strait
Islander patients. I didn't know about their language which created a communication barrier and
effects in decision making process (Wilson 2014). I have no idea about how to handle and
address the issues of these patients. Thus, this leads to blockage in treatment of Aboriginal and
Torres Strait Islander patients. I became anxious while dealing with the family members of
patients. They became furious when I was not able to made communication with them
effectively. I was consistent about my training and as a nurse, these thoughts and feelings does
not affect my nursing practice. Now, when I look back, I can say that I have improved and
increase my performance as a nurse effectively. The good part while addressing the Aboriginal
and Torres Strait Islander was to acquire more knowledge and information about their attitude,
culture, beliefs and context. These indigenous people were kind and cooperating with me
efficiently. Their attitude represents their behaviour, which was quiet good as compared to non
indigenous patients of Australia. The only bad experience I got was unable to made effective
communication with these patients. Albeit, with the help of interpretors and translators in the
health care institution, I was then able to understood the problems and issues of indigenous
patients.
There were other registered nurse and health care practitioners, who faced the same
difficulties. These issues provide me a cause of concern and I have embarked learning the
concept of their language. As I do not wish to experience these issues again in my nursing life. In
the book written by Clark et.al. (2015) he stated that to improve the nursing and health care
practice, it is mandatory for registered nurse to enrol for CPD (Continuous Professional
Development) training. The research made by Wilson et.al. (2016) found that there are many
problems and factors that creates a barrier in effective treatment of illness suffered by Aboriginal
and Torres Strait Islander patients. Some issues described on the internet was communication
issues, religon and family issues that impact on effective decision-making process in nursing
(Hendrick et.al. 2014). I have analysed these research articles so that I can improve my nursing
practice. Though these articles does not help in practical treatment of Aboriginal and Torres
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Islander patients. I have learnt therapies like meditation and other holistic therapies that will help
in rehabilitation and recovery in the health of patient. These therapies and techniques will aid in
effective growth and development and also aid in recovery in health of patient. There were times
where I required help from other nurses. Other nurses helps me efficiently and I was able to treat
the patient effectively. Research articles and other nursing books assist in providing evidence and
also aid in improvement of my knowledge and information level.
Here in dealing with the patients and the family members I faced difficulty as their was
communication differences and we were not able to understand each other. I could have learned
while communicating with the family members about their issues and problems for the patients
how long have been suffering from this. What are the things that they usually do to communicate
their messages and make sure to have a balanced between their normal behaviour or the issues
they are facing. By talking with the patients would have learned about their issues and how do
they feel and what they want to do, what are their wishes and how to cooperate in these
situations. Here, I also noticed that there was a need to have effective communication with the
family members and make them understand about the problem and be able to help them to
overcome these issues. There was a need to make them understand that religion and
communication issues can be overtaken smoothly by effectively trusting each other values and
beliefs in the family. Their was a need to contact with the mentor about the issues of religious
problems, values and beliefs, and family issues that first needed to be communicated. If these
problems are effectively taken under control then it will be easier to communicate with the
family members as well. It was concluded that these issues are not irrational and can be
cooperated if all the members effectively concern each other and respect everyone's values and
belief's. The best possible way to overcome these issues is to treat the patient with ease and make
sure that he is able to communicate and understand the pointed issues. The family members can
help in effectively developing an understanding with the patients by separating the religious and
cultural values. These issues should be kept aside while cooperating with the patient and there
must be an effective communication with the patient and the family members to take care of such
issues. There is a need to make sure that all the barriers are kept aside while treating the patient
and the most effective way to treat any patient was found through meditation where he feels
relaxed. He is able to think beyond the issues and make sure that there is no such problem and
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can be communicated within the sight. He will be able to think again and go beyond such issues
and have a healthy mind set to deal with the problems.
Action plan helps in evaluating the process and this experience to deal with such patients
has helped me to understand the people who are competing with issues of beliefs and values and
are not able to cooperate with their family members as well. They need to have good
communication between them so to able to deal in those issues. It has revealed me my strength to
communicate effectively and to understand properly by examining the patient effectively and to
the last required area. Yes this similar situation can be handle with more confident now as this
issue has been resolved effectively. In similar situations, there is no need to lose your temper and
be patience and deal with such issues with ease and confidence.
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REFERENCES
Books and Journals
Clark, R.A., Fredericks, B., Buitendyk, N.J., Adams, M.J., Howie-Esquivel, J., Dracup, K.A.,
Berry, N.M., Atherton, J. & Johnson, S., 2015. 'Development & feasibility testing of an
education program to improve knowledge & self-care among Aboriginal & Torres Strait
Islander patients with heart failure'. Rural & remote health, pp 15.
Wilson, A.M., Kelly, J., Magarey, A., Jones, M. & Mackean, T., 2016. 'Working at the interface
in Aboriginal & Torres Strait Islander health: focussing on the individual health
professional & their organisation as a means to address health equity'. International
journal for equity in health, 15(1), p.187.
Hendrick, A., Britton, K.F., Hoffman, J. & Kickett, M., 2014. 'Developing future health
professionals capacities for working with Aboriginal & Torres Strait Islander peoples'. The
Australian Journal of Indigenous Education, vol 43 no. 2, pp.154-164.
Wilson, A., 2014. 'Addressing uncomfortable issues: reflexivity as a tool for culturally safe
practice in Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander health'. The Australian Journal of
Indigenous Education,vol 43 no. 2, pp.218-230.
Reflective writing: About Gibbs reflective cycle 2017, The reflective cycle (Gibbs 1988), Oxford
Brookes University, viewed 24 October 2017,
<https://www.brookes.ac.uk/students/upgrade/study-skills/reflective-writing-gibbs/>
Geia, L., Budden, L., Felton-Busch, C., Baldwin, A., Sparke, V., Callope, E., Ives, K., Boucher,
R., Johns, K. & Hinch, J., 2014. 'Connectedness, confidence, competence, celebration:
4C'ing the future for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander nursing and midwifery students'.
Buitendyk, N., Clark, R.A., Fredericks, B., Adams, M., Atherton, J., Howie-Esquivel, J., Dracup,
K. & Wu, C.J., 2013. 'Development of a Culturally Specific Heart failure self-management
IPad teaching tool for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islands People'.
Nielsen, A.M., Alice Stuart, L. & Gorman, D., 2014. 'Confronting the cultural challenge of the
whiteness of nursing: Aboriginal registered nurses perspectives'. Contemporary nurse, vol
48 no. 2, pp.190-196.
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