Reflective Essay using Rolfe Reflective Model Assignment Paper
Reflective Essay using Rolfe Reflective Model
This reflective essay will adopt Rolfe’s model of reflection, (Rolfe, G et al. 2001) which was derived from Borton’s developmental model. (Boyd E et al. 1983)
The scenario is presented as Appendix 1 and the patient has been anonymised as ‘Lee’ in accordance with the NMC guidelines (NMC 2008) Example Reflective Essay using Rolfe Reflective Model Essay PaperExample Reflective Essay using Rolfe Reflective Model Essay
What?
When analysed in overview, one can note that the main issues contained in this scenario are that a schizophrenic patient, who may therefore be psychotic, who is certainly confused due to his metabolic disturbances (hyponatraemia) and possibly idiopathic confusion, has made an allegation of physical assault against another staff member. The patient is also forgetful and the event happened three days ago. Clearly the incident cannot be confidently verified at this stage and there is a question as to whether the patient is reliable in making this allegation. Analysis revolves around my reflection on the actions that I took and whether they could be considered appropriate or capable of improvement. Example Reflective Essay using Rolfe Reflective Model Essay Paper
My role in the situation was that I was the recipient of the allegation. Having heard the allegation, I tried to make sense of it. On the one hand I was aware of the seriousness of the allegation if it were true, and therefore I was also aware of the potential harm that an untrue allegation could cause to the professional integrity of the ‘Special‘ who was involved. I was obviously aware of Lee’s potential for confusion and psychosis, but I was also impressed by the apparent veracity of his recollection and also by the fact that he started to cry when he was recounting it. (Nicol M N et al. 2004)Example Reflective Essay using Rolfe Reflective Model Essay
On balance, I did believe his account of the situation. I therefore felt that I had a moral and professional duty to escalate the complaint to the Senior Ward Sister. After a period of discussion with the Ward Sister, I filled in an Incident Report Form (IR1), which was then forwarded to the hospital management. Example Reflective Essay using Rolfe Reflective Model Essay Paper
After the event, I experienced a period of prolonged self-examination. I was concerned in case I had inadvertently been party to a false allegation and considered further the consequences for the ‘Special’ involved. After a period of intense reflection, I concluded that I was right to take the action that I did, both because of my professional duty to ‘do my best for the patient’ but also because I was acting as the patient’s advocate in these circumstances, which seemed entirely appropriate. (Brooke C et al. 2007)
The response of the Ward Sister seemed entirely appropriate. I believe that she went and spoke to Lee herself and determined that there was sufficient evidence to make the reporting of the incident (IR1) appropriate. This reassured me greatly. The Ward Sister also discussed the ethics and implications of the situation with me, which was both professionally helpful and considerate, as she could see that I was unclear about what I should do in these circumstances. Example Reflective Essay using Rolfe Reflective Model Essay Paper
In any reflective process, one also has to consider the feelings of the patient. In this case Lee did appear to be pleased that he was being taken seriously, but his fluctuating lucidity meant that further questioning did not clarify the situation any further. He certainly appeared to be pleased when he was told that the ‘special’ would not be assigned to him again.Example Reflective Essay using Rolfe Reflective Model Essay
So what?
The theoretical elements of the analysis of this situation are straightforward. Jasper, in his erudite series of analyses (Jasper M 2007), acknowledges that part of the responsibility of being a professional practitioner is to ensure that you give the best care possible to your patients or clients. In an analysis of a similar situation, the author is unequivocal in his assessment that the professional duty of the nurse is to share such reports of possible patient abuse with their immediate superior. Even if the patient is ‘of reduced capacity’ or ‘of questionable reliability’ (Jasper M 2007 Pg 36), they should therefore considered ‘vulnerable’ in the professional sense, and offered greater, not less, protection.
An ethical analysis would suggest that the nurse should invoke the Principle of Non-Malificence, which was derived from the often quoted dictum of Hippocrate