The ability to reflect on practice is a competency expected of all professionals in contemporary healthcare. The aim of this assessment is to provide students with an understanding of ways in which critical reflection can contribute to enhancing health care, as well as providing an opportunity for students to develop skills in critical reflection and knowledge of some of the tools that may be used for that purpose.
Students will write an appropriately structured essay that includes the following:
• Explanation of the concept of critical reflection and why it is important for nurses. Within the discussion, review of at least one critical reflection tool (800 words).
• Reference to ANMC documents and other contemporary and relevant scholarly literature.
• After the essay conclusion, but before the reference list, students will include their own critical reflection on how their perception of the role and function of nurses has changed since they commenced their university degree (200 words).
• In line with academic writing guidelines, the essay is to be written impersonally in third person, but students may write the critical reflection in first person.
• Students should note that they can refer to the concepts and theories of other authors to inform their reflection processes; however, they cannot actually reference a personal reflection.