Reflective Writing and Critical

Thinking
by
Sehrish Naz & M. Iqbal

RN, Post RN, MSN

Lecturer, Institute of Nursing Sciences, Khyber medical University

Subject
Teaching and Learning
Principles and Clinical Preceptorship

11/16/2022 Post RN semester II 1

 Objective
After the completion of this unit students will
be able to:
• Discuss thinking process; to understand the
process of reflective observation
• List and Compare types of thinking
• Define reflection

11/16/2022 Post RN semester II 2

 Cont…

• Discuss types of reflections

• Discuss process of reflection
• Define critical thinking
• Analyze the role of critical thinking in
reflective practice
• Discuss the components of critical thinking

11/16/2022 Post RN semester II 3

 Thinking process

11/16/2022 Post RN semester II 4

 Types of thinking

.
1. Abstract
2. Analytical
3. Creative
4. Concrete thinking
5. Critical thinking
6. Convergent thinking
7. Divergent thinking

11/16/2022
Post RN semester II 5
 Critical Thinking

A careful and goal-directed thinking that is

used to assess complicated situations, identify
actual and potential problems, and make
decisions about an action plan.

11/16/2022 Post RN semester II 6

 Cont…
.

Critical thinking is self-guided, self-

disciplined thinking which attempts to
reason at the highest level of quality in a
fair-minded way.

11/16/2022
Post RN semester II 7
 Cont…
Critical thinking; raises vital questions and
problems, gathers and assesses relevant
information, thinks open-mindedly within
alternative systems of thought, communicates
effectively with others in figuring out solutions
to complex problems.

11/16/2022 Post RN semester II 8

 Cont…
Critical thinking is, in short, self-directed, self-
disciplined, self-monitored, and self-corrective
thinking.

It presupposes assent to rigorous standards of

excellence and mindful command of their use.

It entails effective communication and problem-

solving abilities.
11/16/2022 Post RN semester II 9
 Examples of Reflection
• Bloom’s Taxonomy Model
• Brookfield Model
• Dewey Model
• Gibb’s Model
• Kolb’s Model
• Schon Model
• Greenway Model
• Roth model
• Peter Model
11/16/2022 Post RN semester II 10
 Characteristics of Critical thinkers
• Aware of their strengths and capabilities
• Proactive
• Creative
• Open minded
• Humble
• Flexible

11/16/2022 Post RN semester II 11

 Cont….

• See the situations from many perspectives

• Support views with evidence
• Apply the concept of “cause and effect”
• Distinguish between fact and fallacy

11/16/2022 Post RN semester II 12

 Steps in Critical thinking
Critical thinkers should deal with the
components of a complex problem in an
orderly manner:
• Identify issues or problems
• Define the problem with a clear and concise
statement of the problem
• Gather relevant information

11/16/2022 Post RN semester II 13

 Cont…
• Assess the credibility and accuracy of information
and supporting evidence
• Analyze information
• Search for reasons and root causes of problem
• Draw conclusions and generate theories
• Formulate questions to test conclusions and
theories
• Identifying potential options or solutions to resolve
issue or problem
11/16/2022 Post RN semester II 14
 Reflection

• Reflection is an important human activity

in which people recapture their
experience, think about it, ponder over &
evaluate it.

• It is this working with experience that is

important in learning.

11/16/2022 Post RN semester II 15

 Cont…

Reflection is an essential phase in the learning

process whereby people explore their
experiences in a conscious manner in order to
acquire new understandings and new
behaviour patterns.” Professor Peter Jarvis
(1987)

11/16/2022 Post RN semester II 16

 Reflection-informal & formal

Informal Reflection
• Involves self- questioning
• Develops our awareness of our own assumptions

Formal Reflection
• Draws on research & theory
• Provides guidance & frameworks for practice

11/16/2022 Post RN semester II 17

 Types Of Reflection

Superficial
. (descriptive reflection)

Reflection at this level is very basic – some would say it

is not reflection at all, as it is largely descriptive.
However the description should not just be of what
happened but should include a description of why those
things happened. Reflection at a superficial level makes
reference to an existing knowledge base, including
differing theories but does not make any comment or
critique of them.
11/16/2022
 cont…
Medium (dialogic reflection)
.

At this level of reflection, the person takes a step back

from what has happened and starts to explore thoughts,
feelings, assumptions and gaps in knowledge as part of
the problem solving process. The teacher makes sense
of what has been learnt from the experience and what
future action might need to take place.
11/16/2022
 cont…

. Deep (critical reflection)

This level of reflection has the most depth. This level of

reflection shows that the experience has created a
change in the person – his/her views of self,
relationships, community of practice, society and so on.
To do so, the teacher needs to be aware of the relevance
of multiple perspectives from contexts beyond the
chosen incident – and how the learning from the chosen
incident will impact on other situations.
11/16/2022
 Activity Time

Think critically on the houses and write a

superficial reflection of 150 words.

11/16/2022 Post RN semester II 21

11/16/2022 Post RN semester II 22
 Process of Reflective Learning
What do I think about this
issue/topic/experience?

- Explore my understanding, perceptions and ideas

- Question my assumptions
- Identify anything confusing or difficult to understand
- What more do I need to know to help my understanding

Develop and refine my ideas Identify, locate and interpret

and beliefs relevant information and resources

How can I use this experience to improve my

learning, thinking and working?
e.g. What would I do differently next time?
11/16/2022 Post RN semester II 23
 Reflective practice

Reflective practice is "the capacity to reflect

on action so as to engage in a process of
continuous learning".

11/16/2022 Post RN semester II 24

 Reflective Writing
Writing a reflection on learning
experience

11/16/2022 Post RN semester II 25

 Gibb’s Model of Reflection
Gibbs' suggestions are often cited as Gibbs'
reflective cycle or Gibbs' model of reflection
(1988), and simplified into the following six
distinct stages: Therefore, offering
constructive vital questions to assist in
.structuring reflection of learning experiences

11/16/2022 Post RN semester II 26

 Six distinct stages of Gibb’s Reflection

1. Description
2. Feelings
3. Evaluation
4. Analysis
5. Conclusions
6. Action plan

11/16/2022 Post RN semester II 27

 1. Description

"What happened? Don't make judgments yet or try

to draw conclusions; simply describe."
For instance:
Orem presented her grand nursing theory about
self-care, further revised and modified many times
and at last formed three nested middle range
nursing theories to guide nursing practice. I applied
her work on a patient having cerebro-vascular
accident admitted in medical ward.
11/16/2022 Post RN semester II 28
 2. Feelings
"What were your reactions and feelings? Again
don't move on to analyzing these yet.“
For instance:
It was a common misunderstanding for me like so
many other nurses do in the nursing practice that
theories are just sophisticated and complex abstract
descriptions about a discipline and it has nothing to
do with concrete reality but I realized that these are
very useful by making framework for practice and
guide rationally a practical situation.
11/16/2022 Post RN semester II 29
 3. Analysis
"What sense can you make of the situation?
Bring in ideas from outside the experience to
help you. What was really going on? Were
different people's experiences similar or
different in important ways?“

For instance:

11/16/2022 Post RN semester II 30

 Analysis cont…
For instance
Orem’s work which now contains multiple
middle range theories can best be utilized for
individuals’ self-care needs assessment,
planning, interventions and evaluation.
Nursing services I utilized was accordingly my
client needs and help an enhancing and
motivating his self-care abilities.

11/16/2022 Post RN semester II 31

 4. Evaluation

"What was good or bad about the experience? Make

value judgments.“
For instance:
I applied Orem’s model for my client and achieved a
sense of accomplishment and satisfaction that it makes a
difference for the client. I evaluated that there is still a
theory practice gap and we are good at skills but lacking
theoretical knowledge. I also evaluated that it might be
difficult sometimes to integrate and test every aspect or
proportion of theory in practical situations.
11/16/2022 Post RN semester II 32
 5. A. Conclusions (general)
"What can be concluded, in a general sense, from these
experiences and the analyses you have undertaken?“

For instance
The work of Orem’s is groundbreaking, successfully
instilled in nursing curricula of many institutions. Many
researchers based their work on her theory basis and no
doubt she celebrated the longevity of her work and received
the many attributions she received. Orem’s theory should be
planned and implemented in different patients in various
settings, it best reflects practice.
11/16/2022 Post RN semester II 33
 5. B. Conclusions (specific)
"What can be concluded about your own
specific, unique, personal situation or way of
working?"

11/16/2022 Post RN semester II 34

 6. Personal action plans
"What are you going to do differently in this type of
situation next time? What steps are you going to take
on the basis of what you have learnt?“
For instance
I enjoyed the way I utilized the theory upon my
patient. It was the first time that I made theory as a
blueprint to provide holistic care for my patient. It
was fruitful to some extent however to reach the
status of proficiency we need to practice it again and
again by critically utilizing in variety of patients and
situations.
11/16/2022 Post RN semester II 35
 Importance of reflective practice
Reflective practice can be an important tool in
practice-based professional learning settings
where individuals learning from their own
professional experiences, rather than from
formal teaching or knowledge transfer, may be
the most important source of personal
professional development and improvement.

11/16/2022 Post RN semester II 36

 Cont…
Further, it is also an important way to be able
to bring together theory and practice; through
reflection you are able to see and label schools
of thought and theory within the context of
your work.

11/16/2022 Post RN semester II 37

 Cont…
What is important about reflection throughout
your practice is that you are not just looking
back on past actions and events, but rather you
are taking a conscious look at the emotions,
experiences, actions, and responses, and using
that to add to your existing knowledge base to
draw out new knowledge, meaning and have a
higher level of understanding.

11/16/2022 Post RN semester II 38

 Cont…

As such the notion has achieved wide take-up,

particularly in professional development for
practitioners in the areas of education and
healthcare.

The question of how best to learn from

experience has wider relevance however, to
any organizational learning environment.

11/16/2022 Post RN semester II 39

 Cont…

In particular, people in leadership positions

have a tremendous development opportunity if
they engage in reflective practice.

11/16/2022 Post RN semester II 40

 Weekly Assignment

Write a reflection on a selected clinical

situation using Gibb’s Model.

11/16/2022 Post RN semester II 41

 References

• Gustaffson C. & Fagerberg I.. Reflection, the

way to professional development?. Journal of
Clinical Nursing 2004; 13(3): .

11/16/2022 Post RN semester II 42