Exploring a model to evaluate levels of reflection in baccalaureate nursing students' journals

The purpose of this study was to use Mezirow's model to identify reflective levels among baccalaureate nursing students. This study examined the question, "Tb what extent and at what level is reflection-on-practice identified in the journals of junior baccalaureate nursing students?" Twenty nursing students wrote journals at three points during a health assessment course. This descriptive, non-experimental study used a classification system to quantify the amount of reflection present. Eighty percent of students were able to reach the higher levels of reflection in at least one journal, but 20% had no evidence of higher-level reflective thought in any journal. Sixty-three percent of journals had entries at the higher levels of reflection. However, of all journal entries, 18% were at higher levels, and 82% were at lower levels. These findings are consistent with other nursing studies using Mezirow's model. Mezirow's levels of reflection are a useful tool to evaluate the level of student reflection in journals.