Self-Reflection Form

STUDENT NAME: Natasha Singh

Clinical Agency: Unit: Credit Valley Hospital

NRS.218
Type of Unit/Population: Rehabilitation

Reflection Guidelines (Gibbs, 1988)

Students will reflect upon 3 clinical situations.
Describe what happened, what was the significant event?
Feelings: Describe what you were thinking and feeling? Discuss how your knowledge base and aspects of the significant event
contributed to these thoughts and feelings?
Evaluation: Explain what was positive and negative about the experience based on the impact it had on you, the client, and/or
institution?
Analysis: What sense can you make of the situation? What question(s) did this experience raise for you? What does the CNO
Compendium of Standards and related literature suggest regarding this situation?
Connect the significant event to one ability and related learning outcome
Conclusion: What else could you have done in this situation?
Action Plan: If a similar situation arose again what would you do? How has this situation combined with your understanding of
the literature influenced how you will care for future clients?
Goals are SMART:
S= specific M=measurable A= achievable R: realistic T = time sensitive
Goals should be evidence-based and/or supported by feedback from clients and members of the interdisciplinary care
team

Situation 1: Recently, I experienced a very scary situation with one of my patients. I was assigned 2 patients in a room of 4.
Unfortunately, I was left to take care of all 4 patients because we could not locate the primary nurse. While showering and caring
for the other 3 patients, I was running late on giving my patient his antihypertensive medication. The 3 blood pressure machines
as well as the machine attached to the wall were not working properly and I was unable to get a blood pressure reading. I had
another student trying to help me as I was stuck in the washroom with my nurses patient. My colleague came to me to tell me
she thought the patient looked very pale and was not responding much. At this point, I was very nervous. I, my colleague, and the
nurses at the nurses station were looking for the primary nurse but she was not wearing her locator pin. When I finally found her
and got a reading I was able to give him the medication and he was okay. I was very scared because I knew that hypertension or
hypotension could kill someone almost instantly since it is known as the silent killer. Unfortunately, the scared feeling
overpowered me and I broke down after the medication was given. At this point, I felt overwhelmed with the program and was
almost determined to drop out because I felt I could not handle the pressure. It made me really question if I was meant for this
type of profession. The positive aspect is that I learned from the experience and now know what to do if the situation happened

again. I was too overwhelmed at the moment and did not realize I could just call a code blue so that the nurse would come to help
me (if I really felt that something was wrong with my patient). If the situation were to happen again and if I really felt that the
patient was in danger because they looked lifeless, then I would definitely call a code blue to get immediate help. Over all, I feel
I should be prepared to handle more than the assigned amount of patients just in case I need to care for more patients and so I
wouldnt fall behind on my scheduled times again. Although I felt organized, I experienced a drawback and had to handle more
than I had expected.

Situation 2: Another experience I would like to reflect on is when a patient died. This was not my patient, it was one of my
colleagues but I feel I still learned from it. When the doctor told the family that the patient wouldnt make it, I didnt believe it
because I recently experienced a doctor telling me my grandfather wouldnt make it and he ended up getting stronger and leaving
the hospital to return to normal living. But the doctor did state that she was having Chyne Stokes breathing which we learned is
usually one of the last gasps of air someone takes before they die. When the patient died, my colleague was distraught. After
seeing the body, I had chills. I was scared and sad at the same time. On the other hand, during post conference we discussed how
greatly nurses affect everyones lives. Were there to care for them when they are born and to be there for them before they go.
We learned how important it is for a nurse to strive to make their final days as comfortable and pain-free as possible. According
to the CNO, nurses should identify the patients wishes for end-of-life care as soon as possible so that they can fulfill those
wishes and have their patient go they wish to go. This experience reminded me how much I appreciate nurses and how happy I
am to be in such a respectable field doing something that changes peoples lives. But I also realized that I couldnt work in
palliative care because I get attached to my patients and I couldnt be around that many deaths. If this were to happen again, I
would continue to give the best care for them until the very end. As with my colleague, I would comfort them and do as much as
I could to help them while they grieve for the loss of their patient. I also believe there are counselors for these situations for the
nurses who have a harder time with their grieving process. I would encourage my colleague to speak to one.

Situation 3: My third experience I would like to reflect on is about time management. Because we are in rehab, I understand the
importance of having the patient do everything that he can. Unfortunately, this can take up a lot of time while providing morning
care and having to get all 3 patients ready for a 10 am therapy. This, at times frustrates me. But this is when time management
comes into play. It is very important to set up a schedule of who has an earlier appointment, who will take the longest during
care, and what order you will care for them so that I am not falling behind with care and medication for my patients. Negatively
speaking, when I am not fully prepared with a plan for the day I feel drained much quicker and I feel that my patients are not

receiving the best care I could possibly give them. Positively speaking, when I am prepared I am able to take my time and go that
extra mile for my patient during morning care. I know my patients appreciate it because they sincerely thank me when I am
finished with them. On some days I have a really hard time and wonder how the nurses manage with 4 or 5 patients. So I know
that team work is also important because when you need a hand, your colleagues will be there to help you. According to the
CNO, it is important for nurses to be aware of their limits and continuously work on them through practice. I know that I can
seek help from colleagues if I need it and in the future if I do need help, I will. But during my practice now, I will continue to
work on my time management skills so that I can give the best care possible to all my assigned patients in a timely manner.