Reflective Notes on Clinical Practice

What is a reflective note?

Reflective Notes on Clinical PracticeUniversity of Ottawa Collaborative BScN Program revised July 2012 A reflective note is a report of a critical incident that occurred during student clinical practice. A critical incident is:•An incident in which you feel your intervention really made a difference towards achieving a clinical outcome;•An incident that went unusually well;•An incident in which there was a breakdown in communication;•An incident that was particularly demanding.Self-reflection is an essential component of clinical practiceand is a legislative requirement for all nurses registered in the province of Ontario (CNO, 2010). As such, you are asked to reflect on your practice and write a note to your clinical professor. These notes are an excellent resource to help you complete your practicum self-evaluation and for monitoring clinical progress. Reflection on clinical practice events can help you derive meaning and learning from nursing practice. For example, reflection can help you approach a similar practice situation differently next time, help you perceive the experience through the patient’s or family’s eyes and help you examine aspects of yourself. The frequency and date for submission of Reflective Notes is outlined in the practicum course syllabus. The clinical professor will review each Reflective Note and provide written feedback. Follow each of the steps provided below for completion of these note