Reflection: Surgery and Reflective Practice

The assignment critically discusses a reflective practice with regards to a clinical placement I undertook. In the following critical incident that I encountered I will utilize the Gibbs Reflective Model. Gibbs reflective model is fairly straightforward and encourage a clear description of the situation. Analysis of feelings, evaluation of the experience, analysis to make sense of the experience, conclusion and action plan where other options are considered and reflection upon experience to examine what you would do if the situation arose again (Gibbs 1998). Unlike many other models (with the exception of Boud) Gibbs model takes in to account the realm of feelings and emotions, which played a part in a particular event. My rationale for using the reflection framework to the clinical encounter is to try and demonstrate my ability to link theory to practice during the process of reflection. I also choose the Gibbs model to help me structure this paper. The model was also chosen to help demonstrate critical reflection within my role of being a student in the practice learning environment. Through my discussion I will also be applying the literature which underpins my experiences in practice. The way the reflection would be defined and a brief description of the surgical procedure including the complications which can arise will be also discussed. Siviter (2008) points out that by using a model of reflection as a guide the practitioner can find the process of reflecting easier. Johns (2004) cautions that a model could become a prison that the practitioner tries to fit into rather than a tool to make sense of a situation. I would suggest that a model should be used as a framework by which reflection is structured, but not followed as a rigid guide which could hamper the practitioner’s reflective account. Bolton (2005) supports this by implying that a less structured approach instead of a restrictive framework would be more suited to helping the practitioner develop