Reflection on RLT and CRC: Exploring Nursing Theories and Practice

This reflective journal entry details a nursing student's journey in understanding and applying the Roper-Logan-Tierney (RLT) model, the Clinical Reasoning Cycle (CRC), and person-centered care within their nursing studies. The student initially struggled to grasp the concepts but gained clarity through lectures, discussions, and a case study. The reflection covers the importance of these theories in patient assessment, care planning, and fostering therapeutic relationships, especially in the context of patients with chronic conditions and co-morbidities. The student highlights the interconnectedness of these theories and their impact on improving patient quality of life. The entry also discusses the student's self-assessment of their learning process, identifying areas for improvement, such as seeking help from professors and enhancing time management skills. The student concludes by outlining plans to deepen their understanding through evidence-based research and case study analysis to enhance their clinical reasoning and nursing practice.

Running head: REFLECTION ON RLT AND CRC
REFLECTION ON RLT AND CRC
Name of the student:
Name of the university:
Author note:

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REFLECTION ON RLT AND CRC
Section 1:
In the fifth week, the professor introduced us to three important topics in the field of
nursing care. The three topics were the person centered care, the clinical reasoning cycle as well
as the RLT model. I was quite excited in the beginning as learning new theories in nursing
amuses me. Moreover, I was very happy that I getting an opportunity to learnt something that
would be very crucial for me in my profession. However, the negative part was that I could not
understand a number of aspects from the overview that the professors gave us on the three topics.
I could not distinguish distinctly about the functioning of each theory, the areas where I need to
apply them, and these confused me and made me nervous. The good part was that I understood
that the CRC and RLT theories are mainly assessment based theories that helps nurses to assess
the symptoms and diagnose the issues correctly. Therefore, I wanted to develop more knowledge
on the topics and looked further to the coming week with the hope that detailed discussing would
help me to understand the features of the theories distinctly. However, to develop some
preliminary knowledge, I went through the several textbooks and tried to gain understanding of
the theories but I could not successfully develop proper ideas about it.
Section 2:
In the sixth week, the professor conducted a detailed discussion on the three topics. He
tried to discuss the different principles and guidelines that the nursing professionals need to
follow while practicing the theories effectively. From these discussions, my confusions gradually
started clearing and I was being able to hold the grasp of the theories. I understood that the
patient centered care is critical in the care centers as it helps the professional to develop effective
relationship with the patients and communicating with them effectively (Kogan et al., 2016). I

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learnt how these theories engaged person in decision making which is one of the most important
attribute for empowering patients and making them feel better. The professors discussed the
important principles of this theories and I tried to understand the importance of each. The second
theory was the clinical reasoning cycle that really made me exited. I understood that I could use
it as a guiding framework when I need o handle patients with co morbidities (Edvardson et al.,
2015). The four steps are the collection of cues of the patient, understanding the patient
conditions, relate their symptoms with pathophysiology and thereby identify the care
requirements effectively (Vikström et al., 2015). I grew confident that with the proper
application of the theory, I would successful recognize the issues and develop care plans
accordingly. Another important part that was also discussed in details was the biological factors
of the RLT models. I developed the understanding of the ten important biological factors that
helps in ensuring how well the patients are conducting their activities of daily lives. These
comprised of maintaining safe environments, controlling temperature, breathing and many others
(Ballard et al., 2018). Therefore, I also understood the important capabilities that I have to
analyze while assessing the patient health. I developed an understanding that my communication
is not apt to undertake such theories and therefore, I started taking workshops to develop my
communication skills so that I can engage patients while taking assessments with the help of
these theories.
Section 3:
The professor conducted an in depth analysis of these theories and shed more light on the
topic by engaging the theories with a case study on Jim. I was quite satisfied with this approach
of the professor as it helped me to develop very clear ideas about the exact functions of these
theories and the correct situations where I need to apply them. I could also relate the three

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theories together and found out that they were interconnected. In the present generation, medical
advancement has increased the life expectancy of people. Although, they are living for larger
number of days, but their quality of life is very poor with several chronic disorders and co
morbidities and therefore they need to depend on others for their activities of life. In such
situation, patients should be engaged in development of effective relationship where they feel
centre of decision making and feel respected and cared and for this reason patient centered care
is important. Researches show that it has positive outcomes (Williams, 2015). When they will
come with their co morbidities, CRC cycle would be used to identify their care priorities before
setting action plans. Different biological s well as physiological determinists need to be
recognized that contribute to the disorders and therefore RLT model is important (Kolanowski et
al., 2015). The seventh week focused on the psychological factors and hence helped to
understand how patients react in a specific way that contributes to their ailments. I wanted to
develop more knowledge on it and therefore, I conducted evidence based article research to gain
a deeper understanding.
Section 4:
In order to assess their quality life and understand about their condition for activities of
daily life, RLT theory is used (Williams et al., 2017). These would help them to understand
which ADL requires support. Moreover, when such patients may come with several co
morbidities and symptoms, CRC would help me to diagnose the symptoms, understand the care
priorities and thereby develop care plans accordingly. CRC, RLT and person centered care help
to analyze all the types of determinants and help in developing quality of life of patients. Person
centered care would help me to develop therapeutic relationship with the patients. It would help
me to respect the dignity and autonomy of the patients and at the same time help me to provide

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care that satisfies them and empowers them in lives. Therefore, the theories are interconnected
and thereby help professionals to provide expert care. In order to overcome the difficulties
that I was facing in grasping the content of the theories, I should have asked for help from the
professor. This would have prevented the occurrence of less stress in me and would have helped
me to develop a better insight. Moreover, I was having issues in managing my studies and work
together. I should have planned my studies effectively so that I did not have to face issues
managing work and study together. I should develop proper time management skills, as it would
be helpful in my career of nursing as well. I have developed the knowledge of the importance
and benefits of the topics taught to us. Now, in order to develop the skills, I would go through
different evidence based articles. I would also ask my professor to provide me examples of case
studies so that I can read them and develop my critical reasoning skills and thinking power. This
would help me to develop myself as a better professional in nursing in the future.

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References:
Ballard, C., Corbett, A., Orrell, M., Williams, G., Moniz-Cook, E., Romeo, R., ... & Wenborn, J.
(2018). Impact of person-centered care training and person-centered activities on quality
of life, agitation and antipsychotic use in people with dementia living in nursing homes: a
cluster-randomized controlled trial of the WHELD intervention. PLoS Medicine, 15(2),
e1002500. Retrieved from:
http://journals.plos.org/plosmedicine/article?id=10.1371/journal.pmed.1002500
Edvardsson, D., Sandman, P. O., & Borell, L. (2014). Implementing national guidelines for
person-centered care of people with dementia in residential aged care: effects on
perceived person-centeredness, staff strain, and stress of conscience. International
Psychogeriatrics, 26(7), 1171-1179. https://doi.org/10.1017/S1041610214000258
Kogan, A. C., Wilber, K., & Mosqueda, L. (2016). Person‐Centered Care for Older Adults with
Chronic Conditions and Functional Impairment: A Systematic Literature Review. Journal
of the American Geriatrics Society, 64(1).
Kolanowski, A., Van Haitsma, K., Penrod, J., Hill, N., & Yevchak, A. (2015). “Wish we would
have known that!” Communication breakdown impedes person-centered care. The
Gerontologist, 55(Suppl_1), S50-S60. https://doi.org/10.1111/jgs.13873
Vikström, S., Sandman, P. O., Stenwall, E., Boström, A. M., Saarnio, L., Kindblom, K., ... &
Borell, L. (2015). A model for implementing guidelines for person-centered care in a

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nursing home setting. International psychogeriatrics, 27(1), 49-59.
https://doi.org/10.1093/geront/gnv014
Williams, B. C. (2015). The Roper-Logan-Tierney model of nursing: A framework to
complement the nursing process. Nursing2017, 45(3), 24-26. doi:
10.1097/01.NURSE.0000460730.79859.d4