SNPG950 Reflection Journal for Practice - Healthcare Module

This assignment presents a detailed reflection journal completed by a student as part of the SNPG950 module. The journal spans two weeks and documents various clinical experiences within a geriatric ward, focusing on recurring themes and challenges encountered in practice. Key themes explored include patient care, ethical dilemmas, cultural competency, and communication skills. The student reflects on incidents involving patient irresponsibility, issues of integrity and dignity, medication administration, and cultural insensitivity among colleagues. The journal also addresses personal challenges such as lack of confidence, communication errors, and ethical conflicts, including a situation involving a breach of honesty. The student reflects on the impact of these experiences and the importance of compassionate care, effective communication, and ethical decision-making in healthcare settings. The assignment highlights the student's growth and learning through reflective practice, including insights gained from mentorship and feedback.

SNPG950 Reflection for Practice - Journal Template (Complete over a minimum of two weeks to
capture recurring themes that are uncomfortable and/or blocking your progress). Following
completion of your Journal you can continue writing your assessment using this document.
Name:
Day/
date
Journal entry Key Themes
Week 1
Day 1
A I entered the geriatric ward, I found some water spilled on
the floor of Mr. Walden’s room , the Patient who had
recently undergone a surgery. In was so angry with the
nursing staff, how can he be so irresponsible.
Irresponsibility of the
staffs
Day 2 Today I met Mrs Brown , she was suffering from dementia.
She is being locked because she has got the ability to walk
around aimlessly.
I felt sad and hurt. She was only kept tied just because she
was ill. She had to be treated like a prisoner. I requested my
peer to unlock her as I wanted to talk to her. Although she
had lost the her memories , she is still a dignified person.
Integrity and dignity.
Day 3 I was given the shift handover in Mr. Walden’s ward. I
noticed that she had been provide with the antidiabetic
medicine. On asking her about it, he said that he did not like
eating normal breakfast and wanted a chocolate shake. I had
refused to give her choice of food and gave the medicines,
knowing the fact that this might be detrimental.
Irresponsible and lack
of accountability
Day 4 Today, I had the opportunity to complete my lunch on time. I
did not sit with my peers perhaps because they did not like
the way, I handled Mr. Walden’s situation.
Lack of confidence
Day 5 I believe that many of my co-colleagues are not culturally
competent. We have an aboriginal staffs in our workforce
and I have seen others, using comments about her diversified
background.
Lack of cultural
competency
Day 6 Today, I heard somebody in the locker room stating about
Rwanda (the aboriginal staff), “How did the administration
took staffs like Rwanda as there were many other competent
candidates chosen during the interview. I got sad as well as
astonished to find the cultural sensitivity of the colleagues
Lack of cultural
competency
Day 7 Week off
Week 2
Day 1 It was a new week and I was waiting to start my work with
your own imagination. As I went to check Mr. Brown, it was
found that the nurse who was in the previous shift actually
shifted a patient.
Lack of accountability
Day 2 Today, I had to administer IV transfusion to Mr. Walden . I
was so nervous that I forgot to perform the five moments of
hand hygiene properly.
Lack of confidence
Day 3 I was allocated to care for Wahira, a 49 years old aboriginal
patient. While I entered her room to take her vital signs, I
Lack communication
skills

totally forgot to communicate with the patient. It seemed
that Wahira wanted to say something but stopped due to
some restrictions
Day 4 Things got better after I had identified that flaws and ensured
that I communicate well with the clients.
Day 5 After the whole day’s work, I managed some to sit with my
mentor and reflect on the day’s work. She taught be about
the main communication mistakes that occurs while dealing
with aged people. I came to understand how understanding
of the body gestures is important while dealing with old
patients
Reflective practice
and taking feedback
from my peers
Day 6 I felt bad today, when I saw that Mr. Walden had been
crying. I approached him thinking whether he is in pain as he
had been suffering from pain, as he had recently underwent
a hip replacement surgery. As I approached him, I came to
understand that he had been missing her wife, who had
passed three years ago. Understanding the emotional value
of the situation, I engaged in light conversation with the
patient, encouraging him to cherish the moments that they
had spent together. I believe, I could deliver at least a little
bit of psychological support to the patient.
Compassion and
empathy
Day 7 There had been an incident that challenged my own learning
and values- values of honesty. Elderly patient had been
provided with milk in the breakfast, in spite of knowing that
the patient has lactose intolerance. Before the patient’s
family could have seen this, the incident came under my
notice as I was going through the patient history on my shift.
Before, placing the incident before the supervisor, I called
the concerned nurse and clarified the incident. To my
surprise, the concerned and the peer nurses, requested me
to supress the matter as such issues can put down the
reputation of the organisation. This was a challenge to my
own personal value of honesty
Honesty