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possibilities and tensions of reflecting while care giving? And possible
questions shaping Strand 2 might be:
What are the constraints that stop reflection happening in practice?
What encourages reflection to happen during practice?
What stories/experiences are shared either formally or informally?
How do I reflect during care giving?
Muddy Footprints: Connections with Ward 1
In order to maintain confidentiality and anonymity I have changed the ward
name along with all staff names to protect their identity. It was a busy
surgical ward for 28 patients with an emergency out of hours service
functioning on a rota basis. I had been a link lecturer on ward 1 from 2000
until 2002 when the role was discontinued, at least 3 years before the
inquiry began. This link role helped staff support the student nurse learning
experience. I had not practised as a nurse in that area; in fact I hadn‘t
worked as a nurse anywhere for about 10 years.
As a link lecturer I visited the ward but there was no regularity to the visits.
I tended to go when there were problems and when my teaching load
would permit it. Part of the role involved auditing the ward for its learning
environment and appropriateness for student nurse placements. The ward
manager, Sheila, had been in post many years and we built a supportive
reciprocal working relationship. I would listen to her working problems and
offer advice or just be there for her to off-load some of her frustrations; she
would listen to some of my work frustrations about the university. We
seemed to have similar values about patient care and it helped that I had
been a ward sister before. I also dealt directly with the staff nurses and
students when there were concerns about the progress of students. I had
taught some of the staff nurses at the university, but I did not manage to
establish a relationship with all staff members.
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