Reflection on My Nursing Experience: A Case Study Analysis

This assignment is a reflective journal entry by a nursing student at the University of Wollongong, detailing a challenging patient encounter. The student uses Gibb's reflective cycle to analyze an experience where they struggled to build rapport with a patient who was initially rude and uncooperative. The reflection highlights the importance of communication, trust-building, empathy, and patience in nursing practice. The student describes their initial confusion and reliance on colleagues and doctors for support, eventually developing interpersonal communication skills and winning the patient's trust through persistent efforts and maintaining confidentiality. The assignment emphasizes the significance of treating all patients equally, maintaining a positive attitude, and the value of collaborative practices within the nursing field, concluding with insights gained and plans for future practice improvements. References to relevant nursing literature are also included, supporting the analysis with established nursing principles and evidence-based practices.

Running head: RELECTION ON MY NURSING EXPERIENCE
REFLECTION ON MY NURSING EXPERIENCE
Name of Student
Name of University
Author Note

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REFLECTION ON MY NURSING EXPERIENCE
The professional and personal values in nursing is based on three main values- treating all
patients equally, providing dignity to patients and to reduce the patients suffering (Weiss,
Tappen & Grimley, 2019). Human-to-human connection is created in nursing through better
communication with the patients- by empathizing with them, respecting all patient, treating
them with humanity, integrity and many more. This study will focus on one such experience
where my values and beliefs have affected my work and the impacts it had on me with the
use of Gibb’s reflective cycle (Sherwood et al., 2019).
I had used evidence based nursing practice (EBNP) since it helps in improving
relationship with patients and that creates trust between patients (Ellis, 2019). Besides that, I
focused on improving the quality of life for patients by providing dignity to patients,
empathizing with them, not losing hope in any circumstances and others. When I used this
latest technique of trust building, I learned that improving the quality of life should not be the
main focus. In nursing, improving the human-to-human connection is important (Holopainen,
Nyström & Kasén, 2019). When I improved my communication with the patients I found out
that they were facing many more problems than we had previously thought. The overall
experience by applying the technique of communication and trust building was good because
I have come to know many new ways of comforting and taking care of patients.
According to Cox (2019), choosing optimism in nursing is necessary. Optimism presented
in shield, proves that no matter how difficult my situation is or even if the patients are not
communicating properly with me I never lose hope. In this experience, the patient was very
rude and hesitant to talk to me. Initially it was not so easy because the patient was becoming
angry every time I tried asking him questions, at that time my colleagues helped me deal with
the patient, the doctor helped me by saying to the patient that we will not give out any
information so the patient could trust me. I had also never met a patient like him before so I
did not know how to talk to him so I felt confused in the beginning and then I asked the help

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REFLECTION ON MY NURSING EXPERIENCE
of my colleagues and doctors. Meanwhile I developed the skill of being patient. This
experience has made me stronger. Finally, the patient felt very good and comfortable with me
because he was able to share his thoughts with me. The patient also appreciated my efforts
that I was continuously trying to communicate with them so he felt he was being cared for
and finally I was able to build his trust on me. Interpersonal communication skill helps the
nurses understand the patients (Arnold & Boggs, 2019).
What I did not like about this experience was that the patient was very rude and he was
continuously asking for the doctor. That made me feel ignored. Sometimes he even became
violent but the doctor asked me to stay calm and patient because he was actually a good
person. What I liked about this experience was that finally I was able to win the trust of that
patient through my persistent efforts as has been shown in the shield. The ant persistently
tries to gather food irrespective of all the challenges. The patient did not like that, I got scared
of him sometimes, and being a nurse, I am not supposed to behave like that. I need to keep
my patience in all situations. The patient however said that he really liked how kept on asking
him questions that why was he behaving that way. He felt good that I trusted him and that I
believed that due to the situations he was behaving that way. Trust building is an essential
part of nursing (Lee, McGlynn & Safran, 2019).
After continuously asking the reason, the patient finally told me that he was going through
some problems in his life and that is why he was frustrated. It was the main reason why he
was behaving like that to me and he was asking for the doctor because the doctor was his
friend. He felt that he could only speak to him and not to me because I was a stranger and he
did not want to discuss his personal issues with me than the doctor actually helped me with
patient.
However, I explained it to him that being a nurse it is our duty to maintain confidentiality of
all information and so he could share his feelings with me. I feel that the patient had finally

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REFLECTION ON MY NURSING EXPERIENCE
become comfortable with me after seeing my efforts. The way I was patient all the time made
him feel that I really cared for him. According to me, if I had behaved little bit more
courageous from the beginning maybe the scenario would have been a bit different. I decided
to understand the patient after the doctor said me to do that. Patience is vital aspect of nursing
(Butts & Rich, 2019).
I could have behaved patiently from the beginning irrespective of the way the patient was
behaving with me because it is one of the main values of nursing- to treat all patients equally.
In all my previous experiences, I had been patient but due to the rude and violent behavior of
the patient, I got scared and decided to take help of the doctor and colleagues. Collaborative
practices in nursing helps solve a problem faster (Yoost & Crawford, 2019). I learned that in
any situation I have to maintain my patience and calm because it is not necessary that every
time calm patients will come. I should treat all my patients equally.
If in future I have to face a similar situation, I know how to deal with that. Nursing skills
can improve the performances (Perry et al., 2019). However, I need to work on my
interpersonal communication skills so that I can talk to all my patients and treat them all
equally.
According to me, nursing requires a positive attitude, persistent efforts to achieve the goal
of providing a quality life to patients, unity is very important as in my case without the help
of my colleagues and doctors I could not have provided proper care towards my patients.
Trust between the patients and the nurses is a must so that an effective human to human
connection can be there. Patience is the most important characteristic of nursing students, as a
nurse we need to be patient in all situations.

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References
Arnold, E. C., & Boggs, K. U. (2019). Interpersonal Relationships E-Book: Professional
Communication Skills for Nurses. Saunders.
Butts, J. B., & Rich, K. L. (2019). Nursing ethics. Jones & Bartlett Learning.
Cox, S. (2019). Choosing optimism. Nursing management, 50(4), 56. doi:
10.1097/01.NUMA.0000554342.78131.97
Ellis, P. (2019). Evidence-based practice in nursing. Learning Matters.
Holopainen, G., Nyström, L., & Kasén, A. (2019). The caring encounter in nursing. Nursing
ethics, 26(1), 7-16. doi.org/10.1177/0969733016687161
Lee, T. H., McGlynn, E. A., & Safran, D. G. (2019). A framework for increasing trust
between patients and the organizations that care for them. Jama, 321(6), 539-540.
doi:10.1001/jama.2018.19186
Perry, A. G., Faan, R. E., Potter, P. A., Faan, R. M. P., & Ostendorf, W. (2019). Nursing
interventions & clinical skills. Mosby.
Sherwood, G., Cherian, U. K., Horton-Deutsch, S., Kitzmiller, R., & Smith-Miller, C. (2019).
Reflective practices: meaningful recognition for healthy work environments. Nursing
Management, 26(1). doi: 10.7748/nm.2018.e1684
Weiss, S. A., Tappen, R. M., & Grimley, K. (2019). Essentials of Nursing Leadership &
Management. FA Davis.
Yoost, B. L., & Crawford, L. R. (2019). Fundamentals of Nursing E-Book: Active Learning
for Collaborative Practice. Mosby.