This document outlines a 5-step process for reflection: 1) Explain what happened without identifying details, 2) Explain how you felt at the time, 3) How you resolved those feelings, 4) Your objective understanding of the situation and potential improvements, 5) Make a plan of action with goals, strategies, and evaluation. The purpose of reflection is to learn from experiences by going through these steps to understand one's emotions, gain perspective, and plan improvements for the future.

1. Reflection
Jo-Anne McShane

2. What is reflection?

3. Reflection in easy steps!
• Step 1: Explain what happened.
• Step 2:Explain how you felt at the time
• Step 3: How did I resolve those feelings
• Step 4: What is my objective, unbiased
understanding of the situation?
• Step 5: Make a plan of action

4. Step 1-
Explain what happened
• Maintain confidentiality of the
patient or colleague. Do not use
identifying details. If copies of
YOUR notes are made- block out pt
details including UR.
• Can be a good situation or a
situation that didn’t turn out so
well.

5. Step 2-
Explain how you felt at the time
Frustration, worry, rage, guilt,
embarrassment, concerned, ugly,
empathy, sorrow, hurt, envy
disgust, stress, sadness, loneliness,
disappointment
shame, sad, pity, happy, love,
excited, proud

6. Step 3-
This is how I resolved or came to
terms with my emotions
• It may take to a couple of days to
come to terms with your emotions.
• Do you need to talk with someone
about it? Debrief?

7. Step 4-
My objective, unbiased
understanding of the situation
• What skills or strategies could be used to make
improvements?
• If you could do it again would you change
anything?
• Is there an issue or learning need that can be
shared with colleagues?
• Is there anything that needs to be reported?

8. Step 5- Make a plan of action
• What are your goals?
• What strategies will help you meet
your objectives?
• What are the outcomes- where you
successful?
• Evaluation

9. Reflection:
• What happened?
• What did I do well?
• What could I have done better?
• There is no point of reflection unless you have
learnt something from it!

10. Everyone write down one good situation that has
happened to you, and one not-so good situation.

11. split into groups and reflect on an situation

12. Reflection in easy steps!
• Step 1: Explain what happened.
• Step 2:Explain how you felt at the time
• Step 3: How did I resolve those feelings
• Step 4: What is my objective, unbiased
understanding of the situation?
• Step 5: Make a plan of action