Using reflection in nursing practice to enhance patient care

Abstract

The ability to reflect on, and learn from, practice experiences is essential for nurses when seeking to provide effective person-centred care. This article outlines the various types of reflection that nurses can use, such as reflection-in-action and reflection-on-action. It also details some of the main models of reflection and explains how nurses might develop their skills in reflection to enhance the quality of patient care. The article provides examples of cases and reflective activities to demonstrate how nurses can use reflection in their practice.

Keywords: continuing professional development; education; nursing models and theories; professional; professional issues; reflection.