Reflecting on practice: Exploring how students learn to be reflective practitioners in an undergraduate nursing curriculum

Developing reflective practice in undergraduate nursing students is an important outcome of any Bachelor of Nursing (BN) program. Integrating reflection helps students: understand their values and expectations; link theory to practice; improve professional competence; and manage the stress and anxiety of transitioning to practice. Undergraduate students often engage with reflective practice at a descriptive level, and for reflection to be effective it must be purposeful and linked to practice. A Digital Storytelling Workshop was integrated into a final semester nursing unit to provide students with a creative way to reflect on their experiences and motivations across the degree.

Final Semester BN students completed an online survey (n = 117) evaluating their experience with reflection, including a depth of reflection questionnaire. Additionally, three students participated in interviews exploring their experiences with reflection across the curriculum. Findings suggest that students used reflection, and even critical reflection, to help them understand their practice. Offering alternate methods to develop reflective practice early in the BN curriculum may allow more students to engage with the reflective process and achieve a deeper level of reflection. The timing of the reflective activities in their final semester provided an opportunity for enhancing confidence prior to transition into professional practice.