Clinical Reflective Journal Example for Nursing Students

Unit 14 Assignment – Clinical: Journal Reflection

Clinical Reflective Journal Example for Nursing Students

Reflective Journal Instructions

You will create 7 entries for your Reflective Journal about a patient encounter. In the 7th entry, you will review the previous 6 entries and evaluate your progress in reflective practice over the course of the term.  Each journal should be a minimum of 250 words. (Clinical Reflective Journal Example for Nursing Students)

The purpose of this reflective journal is self-reflection regarding the role in the process of self-reflection as a PMHNP provider. Through reflective practice, the student will evaluate their own emotional health and recognize one’s own feelings as well as one’s ability to monitor and manage those feelings. The point of the exercise is to learn yourself, your triggers, the types of cases you end up getting overly involved with, and those you’d rather refer to someone else. The idea is to be able to personally reflect on your behaviors/thoughts/decisions and how those impact you in the role of PMHNP. (Clinical Reflective Journal Example for Nursing Students)

Address the following items: 

  • This is the last journal entry, please reflect on the previous 6 entries and evaluate your claims in a reflective practice over the course of the term.(Clinical Reflective Journal Example for Nursing Students)
  • Use the appropriate APA formatting with a minimum of 2 references to support your work.

NoteGrades of Incomplete on this assignment will result in a clinical failure.

Rubric

NU675 Unit 14 Assignment – Clinical: Journal Reflection

NU675 Unit 14 Assignment – Clinical: Journal Reflection

CriteriaRatingsPts

This criterion is linked to a Learning OutcomeContent Reflection

8 pts

Level 5

Reflection demonstrates a high degree of critical thinking in applying, analyzing, and evaluating key course concepts and theories from readings, lectures, media, discussions activities, and/or assignments. Insightful and relevant connections made through contextual explanations, inferences, and examples.(Clinical Reflective Journal Example for Nursing Students)

5.6 pts

Level 3

Reflection demonstrates some degree of critical thinking in applying, analyzing, and/or evaluating key course concepts and theories from readings, lectures, media, discussions activities, and/or assignments. Connections made through explanations, inferences, and/or examples.(Clinical Reflective Journal Example for Nursing Students)

3.2 pts

Level 1

Reflection demonstrates limited critical thinking in applying, analyzing, and/or evaluating key course concepts and theories from readings, lectures, media, discussions, activities, and/or assignments Minimal connections made through explanations, inferences, and/or examples.(Clinical Reflective Journal Example for Nursing Students)

0 pts

Level 0

Reflection lacks critical thinking. Superficial connections are made with key course concepts and course materials, activities, and/or assignments.

8 pts

This criterion is linked to a Learning OutcomePersonal Growth

8 pts

Level 5

Conveys strong evidence of reflection on own work with a personal response to the self-assessment questions posed. Demonstrates significant personal growth and awareness of deeper meaning through inferences made, examples, well developed insights, and substantial depth in perceptions and challenges. Synthesizes current experience into future implications.(Clinical Reflective Journal Example for Nursing Students)

5.6 pts

Level 3

Conveys evidence of reflection on own work with a personal response to the self-assessment questions posed. Demonstrates satisfactory personal growth and awareness through some inferences made, examples, insights, and challenges. Some thought of the future implications of current experience.(Clinical Reflective Journal Example for Nursing Students)

3.2 pts

Level 1

Conveys limited evidence of reflection on own work in response to the self-assessment questions posed. Demonstrates less than adequate personal growth and awareness through few or simplistic inferences made, examples, insights, and/or challenges that are not well developed. Minimal thought of the future implications of current experience.(Clinical Reflective Journal Example for Nursing Students)

0 pts

Level 0

Conveys inadequate evidence of reflection on own work in response to the self-assessment questions posed. Personal growth and awareness are not evident and/or demonstrates a neutral experience with negligible personal impact. Lacks enough inferences, examples, personal insights and challenges, and/or future implications are overlooked.(Clinical Reflective Journal Example for Nursing Students)

8 pts

This criterion is linked to a Learning OutcomeTimliness

4 pts

Level 5

Journal reflection is submitted on or before deadline.

2.8 pts

Level 3

Journal reflection is submitted within 1 day (24 hours) after the deadline.

1.6 pts

Leve 1

Journal reflection is submitted 1-2 days (25-48 hours) after the deadline.

0 pts

Level 0

Journal reflection is submitted 2-3 days (49-72 hours) after the deadline.

4 pts

Total Points: 20

Clinical Reflective Journal Example for Nursing Students

(Clinical Reflective Journal Example for Nursing Students)

I have reflected on various mental health practice encounters, illnesses, and concepts throughout the semester. First, I reflected on mental health informed consent, noting its significance in clinical studies and medical and psychotherapeutic interventions (Zur, 2020). Significantly, I indicated that mental health clients have the right to be informed about their care and contribute to their treatment and for pediatric clients, parents or legal guardians have the authority to provide informed consent on their behalf (Katz et al., 2016). Second, I reviewed the use of mnemonics in mental health care practice. I noted that mnemonics are based on grouping information for easy recall and are crucial for assessing and diagnosing mental conditions (Caplan & Stern, n.d.). Therefore, mnemonics are ideal for learning and practicing as a student since they improve memory (Kadiyala, 2020).(Clinical Reflective Journal Example for Nursing Students)

Third, I assessed my learning and readiness to practice as a DNP-prepared nurse. I noted a significant change in my knowledge and perception of translation science, acknowledging the significance of knowledge acquisition and practice of evidence translation. Consequently, I have become competent in identifying research gaps and formulating questions and hypotheses. Moreover, I have developed a significant understanding of the application of scientific theories and models such as Dorthea Orem’s Self Care Deficit Theory, Normalization Process Theory, and Shared approach in implementing changes, maintaining interventions, and making shared decisions, respectively (Zaccagnini & Perchacek, 2021; May et al., 2018).(Clinical Reflective Journal Example for Nursing Students)

Fourth, I reflected on my patient encounters, which required appropriate drug administration and patient education, a non-compliant patient, a non-adherent patient, an adverse reaction, a violent patient, and collaboration with other healthcare personnel. I noted the characteristic dilemma of patient encounters that requires an understanding of ethical principles (Haddad & Geiger, 2018). As a DNP-prepared nurse, I should balance practice ethics and clients’ values and recognize fairness and truthfulness in practice (American Psychological Association [APA], 2016).(Clinical Reflective Journal Example for Nursing Students)

Fifth, I reflected on adaptive–maladaptive mental health continuum and therapeutic processes, described my thoughts on beliefs on mental illnesses, conditions, and presentations, trustworthiness and self-centeredness of mental health clients, and the prevalence of mental health. Lastly, I reflected on inpatient hold practices in Illinois and noted that inpatient hold is a legal process that allows mental health institutes to hold mental health patients involuntarily (Fariba & Gupta, 2022). Significantly, impatient hold protects individuals from harming themselves or others or worsening their condition. An inpatient hold is possible in Illinois through a court order or certification (Illinois General Assembly, 2022). In sum, the reflections during the term have been crucial in reviewing my competence in various mental health issues, identifying my weaknesses, and establishing appropriate actions to improve my competence.(Clinical Reflective Journal Example for Nursing Students)

Clinical Reflective Journal Example for Nursing Students

References

Zur, O. (2020). Introduction to informed consent in psychotherapy, counselling, and assessment. Zur Institute. https://www.zurinstitute.com/informedconsent/

Katz, A. L., Webb, S. A., & Committee on Bioethics. (2016). Informed consent in decision-making in pediatric practice. Pediatrics138(2). https://doi.org/10.1542/peds.2016-1485

Caplan, J. P., MD., & Stern, T. A., MD. (n.d.). Mnemonics in a nutshell: 32 aids to psychiatric diagnosis.  Current Psychiatry, 7(10), 27-33. http://mcmasterpa.weebly.com/uploads/1/2/7/3/12737575/0710cp_article2.pdf

Kadiyala, P. K. (2020). Mnemonics for diagnostic criteria of DSM V mental disorders: a scoping review. General Psychiatry33(3). https://dx.doi.org/10.1136%2Fgpsych-2019-100109

Elwyn, G., Durand, M. A., Song, J., Aarts, J., Barr, P. J., Berger, Z., … & Van der Weijden, T. (2017). A three-talk model for shared decision making: multistage consultation process. BMJ359. https://doi.org/10.1136/bmj.j4891

May, C. R., Cummings, A., Girling, M., Bracher, M., Mair, F. S., May, C. M., … & Finch, T. (2018). Using normalization process theory in feasibility studies and process evaluations of complex healthcare interventions: a systematic review. Implementation Science13(1), 1-27. https://doi.org/10.1186/s13012-018-0758-1

Zaccagnini, M. E. & Perchacek, J. (2021). The Doctor of Nursing Practice essentials: A new model for advanced practice (4th ed.). Jones & Bartlett Publishers.  

American Psychological Association. (2016). Revision of Ethical Standard 3.04 of the” Ethical Principles of Psychologists and Code of Conduct”(2002, as amended 2010). The American Psychologist71(9), 900. https://content.apa.org/doi/10.1037/amp0000102

Haddad, L. M., & Geiger, R. A. (2018). Nursing ethical considerations. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK526054/#:

Fariba, K. A., & Gupta, V. (2022). Involuntary Commitment. StatPearls [Internet]. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK557377/# 

Illinois General Assembly. (2022). Illinois Compiled Statutes Available at: https://www.ilga.gov/legislation/ilcs/ilcs4.asp?DocName=040500050HCh.+III&ActID=1496&ChapterID=34&SeqStart=8000000&SeqEnd=19600000(Accessed 31 October 2022)