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Bourdieu‘s work has led me to tentatively question if a tension of
reflecting-in-action might be partially related to class distinctions between
middle class nurse values of ‗self improvement and self sacrifice‘ and
working class nurse values of ‗doing the job and obeying orders‘. As I have
already argued, nurses‘ historically embodied dispositions may not
necessarily have the same cultural, political, academic, social and
symbolic capital creating differing cultural capital and power struggles in
the field. Perhaps this contributes to the attitude that reflection is a ―waste
of time‖.
In my story about John 37 where I made a fatal error, I wonder if this
happened now would it lead to litigation or removal from the nursing
register. Clearly, this tension is likely to inhibit reflecting and is linked to
issues of power. Later I will show, as the nurses largely felt unsupported
by managers, it can be ‗too risky‘ and exposing to own up to making
mistakes.
Surveillance through reflecting has pre-occupied some of the nursing
discourse on reflective practice 38 but is not a dominant discourse. Gilbert
(2001) noticed a hidden unspoken discourse relating to surveillance and
reflecting. He argued that through reflection nurses‘ practice is visible,
accountable therefore it can be judged whether it is safe or not. This could
lead to a self managed process potentially absolving those in hierarchical
positions from taking responsibilities or could be an intrusion from those
with power affecting the identity and autonomy of the nurse in subtle ways.
Similarly, Cotton (2001) contends that political regulation can occur
through normalising judgements. She asked:
―Which individuals and groups within nursing are given voice and
privileged in the discourse of reflection and which are silenced and
devalued? (2001 p.517)
37 See chapter 1
38 See for example Fejes 2008, Rolfe & Gardner 2006, Cotton 2001, Gilbert 2001, Wellard
& Bethune 1996
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