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Nurses' perceptions of the value of written reflection.
1School of Health and Social Care, University of Portsmouth, St James Hospital, UK. jasperm@shs.port.ac.uk
Nurse Education Today
|February 29, 2000
Summary
Reflective writing skills are essential for professional development in nursing, requiring explicit learning rather than innate ability. This practice fosters critical thinking and personal growth for nurses.
Area of Science:
- Nursing Education
- Professional Development
- Qualitative Research
Background:
- Reflective writing is increasingly utilized by nurses to demonstrate continuing professional development and competence.
- There is a need to understand how nurses develop and utilize writing techniques for practice enhancement.
Purpose of the Study:
- To explore how nurses use and develop writing techniques as a tool for facilitating and supporting their professional development in practice.
- To identify the preliminary categories and concepts related to nurses' use of reflective writing.
Main Methods:
- Grounded theory methodology was employed.
- Two focus group interviews were conducted with 12 experienced nurses over one year.
- Data analysis followed established criteria for qualitative and grounded theory studies (Lincoln & Guba, 1985; Strauss & Corbin, 1990).
Main Results:
- Reflective writing skills require explicit learning.
- Writing is accepted as a distinct learning strategy.
- Reflective writing enhances practitioners' analytical and critical abilities.
- Nurses reported personal and professional growth through reflective writing.
Conclusions:
- Reflective writing is a valuable tool for professional development in nursing.
- The acquisition of reflective writing skills is crucial for its effective use.
- Further research can build upon these findings to optimize reflective writing in nursing practice.