This reflection study is to examine the insights I have gained from the session on clinical governance planning. I participated in a four-member project focused on conference preparation about the transmission of infectious diseases and the administration and governance of preventative initiatives. I have acquired issue identification and resolution techniques via this collaborative effort and conducted comprehensive study. In addition to topic knowledge, I have enhanced my analytical and collaborative abilities, which, according to Cleary, Lees, and Sayers (2019), will facilitate development in future projects or real-world problem-solving. This study will use Gibb’s reflective model rather than Kolb’s to elucidate all components of the learning process in this project. Gibb's reflective model has many stages, each of which will be examined in relation to my experience with this specific project. This reflection will finish with an action plan including the strategies to convert my flaws into strengths and enhance my career trajectory in the nursing profession.
The Gibbs reflective model is a prominent cyclical framework that encapsulates individual experiences via six detailed stages: description, emotions, assessment, analysis, conclusion, and action plan. The Gibbs reflective model was established in 1988 to provide a framework for learning from events. The cyclical framework provides valuable experiences, enabling participants to learn from both good and poor outcomes. The description phase encompasses the event, whereas the sensation phase include the ideas related to that experience. The evaluation stage assesses the positive and negative aspects of the event and analyzes the situation. The conclusion summarizes the lessons learned, while the action plan outlines the participant's approach to managing similar situations in the future.
Opting for Gibbs' Model of Reflection is more advantageous than other reflective frameworks, such as Kolb's reflective model. Tawanwongsri and Phenwan (2019) identify some critical variables related to these two reflective cycles that make Gibbs' reflective model superior. Gibbs' reflective model has five steps, whereas Kolb's reflective cycle consists of four stages: tangible experience, reflective observation, abstract conceptualization, and active exploration. Reflection involves conducting a straightforward examination of events; yet, the phases of Kolb’s reflective model complicate this process.
Secondly, the phases of Gibbs' reflective model may be modified to suit the objectives of reflection, a flexibility not afforded by Kolb's model.
Thirdly, Gibbs' reflective approach recognizes the need of thoroughly documenting all encounters and the counsel offered. Kolb's work presents a precise and intricate assessment on events without any help from the writers.
Fourth, Kolb’s reflective cycle fails to recognize the influence of cultural influences and gender disparities. The Gibbs reflective model recognizes these aspects and ensures that they will be elaborated upon for a better comprehension of the event.
The fifth aspect is that human cognition is essential in the reflective cycle, a component included in Gibbs' reflective model but absent in Kolb's reflective cycle. Although the latter offers a compelling and comprehensive description of the participants' experiences, emotions, and actions, it seems to place less emphasis on the emotional dimensions of these events.
Sixth, Kolb’s reflective cycle emphasizes the importance of reflecting elements in experiential learning, while Gibbs' reflective model offers a framework for deriving insights from experiences.
Ultimately, Gibbs' reflective model offers a framework for an action plan, enabling participants to effectively learn from their experiences and apply the gained information to future situations, while Kolb's reflective cycle lacks such provision.
During a project focused on Governance and Management Systems, I was designated as one of the four members of the project development team. On our first day as project team members, I was introduced to my colleagues, and a comprehensive orientation was provided on our positions, roles, and duties. The project occurred on the university premises on July 29th. We were assigned the topic of Governance and Management Systems in inhibiting innovations in hospitals and tasked with gathering data to support this subject. The project was divided into eight sessions, and the four participants were required to analyze the connected elements. We divided the issue into numerous components for analysis and assigned duties for examining various resources to comprehend the subject.
During the storming phase of team creation, many conflicts arose among team members owing to ineffective communication, resulting in misunderstandings (Maes and Weldy 2019). This, in turn, was impeding our capacity to function as a team and causing unwarranted delays. As a team member, I saw that many individuals had challenges in conveying information clearly and openly owing to language limitations and insufficient communication skills. This thus led to misunderstandings and negatively impacted our project.
The team was tasked with developing a conference strategy focused on healthcare administration and governance, specifically addressing the causes and prevention of infections. In hosting this conference, we needed to build specific methods and advanced abilities such as analysis, teamwork, decision-making, communication, and research. We adhered to Tuckman's team dynamics model to ensure our operations remained current and devoid of disputes (Saban, Drach-Zahavy, and Dagan 2021). We adhered to the steps of forming, storming, norming, performing, and adjourning to cultivate the teams and manage them for optimal project outcomes. Team formation and management with only four people proved both advantageous and hard due to the constraints in knowledge and abilities inherent in such a small group. We efficiently assigned the duties of the leaders and other team members without significant time expenditure. This also facilitated the establishment of short-term objectives for organizing the sessions and discussing the study methodology.
The initiative focused on enhancing management and governance systems inside hospitals for registered nurses. Consequently, all four members undertook thorough research and presented their findings throughout the sessions (Maes and Weldy 2018). We exchanged personal rescues to ensure project integration. Our objective was to examine the prevention of infection risks in hospitals by enhancing governance and management. This outlines the rationale for using good team management practices to facilitate the sharing of skills and information across team members, ensuring project continuity and relevance. We were tasked with demonstrating our competence as registered nurses and illustrating our approach to addressing critical healthcare challenges inside the hospital after our recruitment.
As a healthcare practitioner, a primary responsibility is the ongoing enhancement of my knowledge and abilities. Considering that the project on ‘Governance in Safety and Quality’ allowed me to enhance my knowledge and abilities in delivering safe and high-quality patient care, my first response upon being chosen as a team member was one of enthusiasm.
During the project, I acquired substantial information about techniques to guarantee safety and excellent treatment for patients. The enhancement of my knowledge and skills instills confidence and satisfaction in me.
During the timing phase, persistent dispute and inadequate communication among team members led to my demotivation. Moreover, when our team encountered unwarranted delays that negatively impacted our project, I experienced frustration and helplessness. The majority of the team members, myself included, experienced anxiety and feared that insufficient interpersonal connection and understanding among us may result in project failure. During the norming stage, the team leader and members skillfully controlled the issue.
Another instance of anxiety among my team members and myself occurred due to a deficiency of time and necessary resources. During week 2, we were required to perform several allocated tasks within a constrained timeframe. At that moment, I saw that my incapacity to do the appointed duty would adversely affect both my professional life and that of my colleagues. This action significantly elevated my anxiety levels. Upon completion of the assignment, I had a sense of accomplishment and satisfaction.
The positive features were our ability to provide a high-quality job within the designated timeframe. Furthermore, over time, each team member cultivated interpersonal connections, resulting in the establishment of a trusted alliance. I also noted my capacity to pinpoint certain flaws within a team. According to Jung and Bae (2019), it is essential for nurses to possess adequate emotional intelligence to comprehend intricate dynamics within a nursing team and the challenges encountered by patients. As a team member, I effectively identified the causes of disagreement inside our team during the storming phase.
The primary negative features identified are ineffective communication skills among team members and inadequate time management abilities. Despite comprehending the factors that precipitated the disagreement, I failed to adopt an effective stance at that moment, which reflected my deficiencies in communication skills and confidence. Carmack and Harville (2020) assert that a healthcare service provider must possess strong communication skills. Proficient communication skills allow a nurse to convey information to both colleagues and patients with clarity and transparency (Galleta-Williams et al. 2020). Moreover, proficient communication skills enable nurse leaders to address contentious situations effectively. As a team member, I might have addressed the matter via good communication, so preventing needless delays that we experienced. Furthermore, inadequate time management skills have led to the potential failure to achieve the designated deadline. As a team member, I believe that with proficient time management skills, our team may have achieved superior results. Rosengarten (2021) asserts that proficient time management skills are essential for a nurse. Given the increased patient flow in the Australian healthcare sector, it is essential for nurses to possess good time management skills. A nurse who adeptly manages time is more likely to achieve an optimal work-life balance and is less susceptible to stress and burnout (Clayton et al. 2019). Considering my aspiration to become a nurse leader in the near future, I will focus on enhancing my communication and time management abilities.
This project succeeded for various reasons, despite issues related to communication and time limitations. The four team members have a fundamental grasp of governance and management within the healthcare industry. All of us were academically accomplished students based on our educational backgrounds. This is the rationale for our extensive study on infection prevention in hospitals. Secondly, we already possess understanding about cooperation and how we may cooperatively address problems. The fundamental concept of team building and management has aided us in comprehending the significance of team culture and communication. We did not have dispute throughout the allocation of tasks and duties within the team. We attentively listened to our teachers, ensuring that accomplishing short-term objectives such as selecting a team leader, allocating tasks, and raising inquiries posed no obstacles. Initially, we had feelings of shyness or inferiority about racing topics and subject analysis; nonetheless, we progressively cultivated relationships among ourselves (Cauwelier, P 2019). I think team members must be aware of each other's strengths and shortcomings to facilitate the exchange of skills and information, therefore bridging the gap. This encapsulates our sentiments throughout the production of our research papers in the sessions. An other critical success aspect is our team culture, which fosters various forms of good communication during team meetings. We addressed the issue with professionalism to ensure the seriousness of the matter is acknowledged.
The project would have benefited from more time for study on the issue. Although we had organized pieces according to topic continuity, the relentless passage of time exerted pressure on us. Initially, we struggled to communicate well, but after many team meetings addressing obstacles, we resolved these issues.
Tuckman's team dynamics theory posits that every team progresses through five stages: forming, storming, norming, performing, and adjourning (McCloughen, O’Brien, and Jackson, 2014). The establishment of a team and the commencement of conflict were the first two steps. We gradually assimilated into the team culture and excelled in the project. We adjourned the team after the submission of the conference plan and received appreciation. Another notion that I believe has contributed to our understanding of the CORE value, which stands for cooperation, openness, respect, and empowerment (Cleary, Lees, and Sayers 2019). This indicates that all team members worked voluntarily and enthusiastically, fostering an environment conducive to the exchange of ideas. We had mutual respect and discovered a sense of purpose in our endeavors. Consequently, we established a conducive atmosphere for all individuals to thrive and excel in the project.
Nonetheless, I may have reacted differently throughout the disagreement session. I am inherently introverted and struggle to respond swiftly in situations. I had believed that internal friction during the first phase would hinder the team's progress in the project. This is why I attempted to avoid this conflict, although I failed to see that it is an integral aspect of team dynamics. I might have asserted my position at that juncture and presented my solutions to the issues. I refrained from communicating with the other three team members, which hindered the whole process. We may have administered the Big 5 personality test to comprehend how our personalities and behaviors influence team dynamics and decision-making. This exam assesses leadership potential, hence facilitating the selection of a team leader. By understanding our own personalities, we might have effectively handled our emotions and provided more knowledge and talents to the completion of the project.
As a registered nurse, I am obligated to adhere to the National Safety and Quality Health Service to ensure that management and governance effectively safeguard patient interests and prevent the transmission of infections (Willetts and Garvey 2020). Following the COVID-19 pandemic, the majority of hospitals have implemented modifications to their management systems and enhanced surveillance of infected patients. This is the rationale behind our selection of this issue and the subsequent comprehensive investigation undertaken on it. This initiative enhanced our effective communication skills, both verbal and written, analytical abilities, teamwork, conflict resolution, in-depth research, and problem-solving ability among registered nurses. We highlighted impediments to infection prevention and control initiatives inside hospitals as the focus of this conference, necessitating the collection of data from real-world scenarios.
To enhance my communication skills as a nurse, I will pursue self-development tactics and participate in seminars focused on this specific talent. I will review internet videos on communication growth to improve my knowledge and abilities. I will also study books by distinguished nursing leaders on the development of communication skills. Khademian et al. (2018) emphasized that increased interaction with colleagues, patients, and family members enhances nurses' communication abilities. I shall likewise adhere to this plan.
To enhance my time management skills, I will organize my tasks on a daily basis. Furthermore, I will acquire expertise about the subject via educational films accessible online. Finally, I will confer with my colleagues to comprehend their time management tactics and will adopt them according to my convenience and knowledge.
Consequently, it may be inferred that comprehending the ability to collaborate effectively is challenging. This was my first project inside a team framework, resulting in several erroneous judgments that hindered the proper completion of the project. I failed to recognize my responsibilities within the team initially, resulting in the project's early setbacks. Nevertheless, we all have comprehensive understanding of the issue, which finally enabled us to conclude on a positive note. The conference planning provided insights into decision-making, collaboration, issue identification and resolution, analytical and research abilities, communication proficiency, and time management within a real-world context. I want to use this experience in future endeavors to surmount the obstacles of erroneous judgments, so avoiding similar issues in team building and management. The strengths I have recognized will be enhanced, and deficiencies will be converted.
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