Gibb’s Reflective Cycle
Describe:
During my clinical placement in a local hospital, I was assigned to care for a patient who had recently undergone surgery for a hip replacement. The patient, a 70-year-old woman, was experiencing significant pain and discomfort post-surgery. These situations do get intense and require the assistance of rights professionals. I was regularly getting the assistance of the other staff, but the pain of the patient went unbearable. This situation is the same as one faces in some situations of a patient getting expired. It leaves the staff and the clinical officials numb if they are facing such a situation for the first time (Aneeis Hashim et al., 2023). The situation that is disappointing, where the family members and relatives of a patient also get involved, can have a drastic effect on the brain. In this clinical scenario, I was responsible for providing nursing care to a patient who had undergone hip replacement surgery. The patient was elderly and had been experiencing considerable pain despite receiving appropriate pain management interventions. This situation raised concerns about the effectiveness of the pain management plan and the patient’s overall well-being.
Feelings:
I felt concerned and empathetic towards the patient’s pain and distress. I was also frustrated and puzzled by the lack of improvement despite following the prescribed pain management protocol. I felt a sense of responsibility to ensure the patient’s comfort and recovery. Despite administering pain medication as per the doctor’s orders, the patient continued to express high levels of pain and distress. This created a very difficult scenario for me. As I was creating the negative possibilities of assuming the most harmful effects. It not just created anxiety for me but also created disturbances in the patient’s atmosphere (Hashim et al., 2023). I tried to compose my mind, but the tension kept emerging as the situation was new to me. The environment of the hospital also created a ruckus in my brain. The sense of responsibility and pressure formed a lot of disturbance in the approach to deal with it.
Evaluation:
Upon reflection, it became evident that the pain assessment process might not have been through enough. The patient’s pain might not have been accurately assessed due to various factors, including communication barriers, the patient’s age, and individual pain perception. Additionally, I realized that I might have relied too heavily on the standardized pain assessment tools and didn’t take into account the patient’s unique needs and preferences. You need to hear the patient, programme the mind in a disruptive situation and overcome the negative impacts of distress. As I took some time to really think about what happened during that clinical situation, it became clear to me that this process is a big deal when it comes to taking care of patients the right way and sticking to the professional approach. Basically, this step is about looking closely at what I did, figuring out where I could do better, and then using that knowledge to make smarter choices next time.
So, back to that situation with the patient who had just gotten hip surgery. At first, I thought I was doing things according to the book. I followed the doctor’s orders for pain meds and used the assessment tools they taught us. But the more I think about it, the more I see that I missed some important stuff (Moloney et al., 2023). Additionally, I guess I kind of missed that part. I was so focused on the pain and the meds that I didn’t really take into account how the patient was feeling emotionally or mentally. I mean, surgery is a big deal, and I should’ve been more attentive to how she was handling it all. Looking back, I realize I could’ve done a better job involving the patient in her own care. I should’ve asked her more about how she was experiencing the pain and what methods she thought might help her feel better. It is her body, after all, and she knows it better than anyone else.
Analysis:
The professional approach emphasizes the importance of individualized care and holistic assessment. In this situation, I recognized that I had focused primarily on using standardized pain assessment tools, which might not have captured the full scope of the patient’s pain experience. I also failed to consider alternative pain relief methods or involve the patient in the decision-making process regarding her pain management. It took me a while to understand, and reflect rightly on the situation, but all went as per the correct norms one clinical official must follow. This experience gave me a vivid view of the right frame of working in a pressurizing situation and deal as per the ethics involved (Hashim et al. 2023). The patient’s condition does play a crucial role, with the terms that I need to follow as a responsible official. It works like the balancing of one’s emotions and the official responsibility. All in all, looking back on it, I see that it’s like a roadmap for getting better at this nursing thing. It’s about really paying attention to what I’m doing, learning from my mistakes, and making sure I’m giving the best possible care to every patient. It’s not always easy, but it’s definitely worth it.
One thing that’s really hitting me now is that treatment is an ongoing thing. It’s not just a one-time checkmark on the to-do list. I should’ve kept checking in on her and adjusting the plan based on her feedback. And it’s not just me, but I should’ve brought in other experts, like the doctors and pain management specialists, to brainstorm ideas and come up with a better approach. I should’ve done more research to find out what the latest studies and evidence say about post-op pain management, especially for patients like her. That could have given me some fresh ideas and a broader perspective.
Conclusion:
To improve my practice, I need to prioritize a holistic approach to pain assessment and management. This involves not only relying on standardized tools but also actively listening to the patient, assessing non-verbal cues, and involving the patient in decision-making about her care. I also need to recognize the potential impact of factors such as age and communication barriers on the accuracy of pain assessment.
Action Plan:
I am setting my sights on improving my nursing approach by enhancing communication with patients, especially those who struggle to express their pain. I will revamp my pain assessment process to take into account not just the physical side but also their emotions and mental state. I’m all about teamwork, so I will team up with other experts and the patient to create a pain management plan that is tailored just for them, and if we need to switch things up, I am all in. And it doesn’t stop there because I will keep a close eye on how things are working out and adjust the plan as needed based on their feedback and how things are shaping up. This is not just about meeting standards; it is about giving each person the best care possible, keeping their well-being and comfort front and centre.
References
Aneeis Hashim, S.N., Yaacob, A., Suryani, I., Mohd Asraf, R., Bahador, Z. and Supian, N., 2023. Exploring the Use of Gibbs’ Reflective Model in Enhancing In-Service ESL Teachers’ Reflective Writing. Arab World English Journal (AWEJ) Volume, 14.
Hashim, S.N.A., Yaacob, A., Suryani, I., Asraf, R.M., Bahador, Z. and Supian, N., 2023. Exploring the Use of Gibbs’ Reflective Model in Enhancing In-Service ESL Teachers’ Reflective Writing.
Hashim, S.N.A., Yaacob, A., Suryani, I., Asraf, R.M., Bahador, Z. and Supian, N., 2023. Exploring the Use of Gibbs’ Reflective Model in Enhancing In-Service ESL Teachers’ Reflective Writing.
Moloney, M., Pope, J. and Donnellan, A., 2023. The Mentor’s Role in Nurturing Reflective Practice. In Professional Mentoring for Early Childhood and Primary School Practice(pp. 141-160). Cham: Springer International Publishing.
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