Reflective Journaling

Reflective journaling can be a valuable tool in learning. It provides a framework for learning from past experiences.

We encourage our practice team to undertake reflective journaling to support their own learning.

This is a personal exercise and the decision to share insights with other staff is up to the individual staff member.

Reflective journaling process

1. Identify an interesting or difficult situation that happened recently.

   These can include:

   • Things that didn't go well.

     For example:

     • Dissatisfied patient
     • Frustrated whānau
     • Missed diagnosis
     • Patient not taking medication.
   • Things that went well.

     For example:

     • Well-managed treatment
     • Good health outcome
     • Positive feedback
     • Appreciative whānau
     • Patient thank-you letter
   • Something you observed but were not personally involved in.
2. Consider and reflect about what happened.

   For example, think about:

   • What, where, and who?

     For example:

     • What happened?
     • Who else was involved?
     • What part did you play?
     • What was the outcome?
   • How did it make you feel?

     For example:

     • What was running through your head?
     • Were you afraid, angry, confused, or scared?
   • Why did it happen?

     For example:

     • Did you make any assumptions that affected your behaviour?
     • Was the patient engaged and empowered?
     • Did it go well or was there room for improvement?
     • How did you and others interact?
   • Could you have done anything differently?

     For example:

     • What factors could you have influenced?
     • Could you have tried anything different?
     • Could you have communicated differently?
     • Would you have treated a patient from a different cultural background the same way?
     • What did you do well?
   • What will you do differently in the future?

     For example:

     • What would you do differently in the same situation?
     • Are there other parties you could involve?
     • What knowledge or skills can you transfer to other situations?
3. Write down all your thoughts, feelings, and insights.
4. If a similar situation happens again, repeat this exercise.

   Think about what happened when you put your learning into practice.

   For example:

   • Did things go as you expected them to?
   • If not, what can you learn?
5. Consider sharing your insights with the practice team for others to learn from.