Reflective practice: reviewing the issues and refocusing the debate

Issues that have emerged as the profession of nursing and other professions have gained a better understanding of reflective practice are explored to broaden the scope of the debate and refocus it; raise issues which are in need of further research.

Abstract

Reflective practice has emerged in the U.K. and beyond as an important issue not just in nursing but in many other professions. However, it remains problematic; it is difficult to conceptualize and many aspects of it are open to debate. Reflective practice is also contentious because, at a fundamental level, it raises a number of important issues for professional practitioners and the way they view their practice. The intention of this paper is to: explore some of the issues that have emerged as the profession of nursing and other professions have gained a better understanding of reflective practice; broaden the scope of the debate and refocus it; raise issues which are in need of further research.