Chapter Thirteen: Why bother with Reflective Practice?
This reflective practice session can be used multiple times by repeating the suggestions of areas to explore for insight and using different de-briefing prompts. Further, the case studies can be replaced by your own studies.
Why should I bother with reflective practice?
Being a reflective practitioner has its challenges, but it also has its rewards.
· Help you be more objective about experiences
· Give you more control over your learning and development
· Help you demonstrate you are active and responsive
· Give you a better understanding of your chaplaincy ministry
This Exercise begins as a whole group discussion. For the initial learning, participants are welcomed and invited to comment or contribute at any time. For the Case study questions, divide into groups of two or three to respond to the questions posed.
Objective: to emphasise the importance of reflective practice and learning and listening to each other.
Procedure:
A. Assemble the whole group in a circle facing in
B. Facilitator distributes the suggestions of areas you might like to explore for the reflections and insight and secondly reads examples of questions for de-briefing - inviting comments [allow 10-15 mins]
C. Facilitator reads and invites personal reflection on ‘How do I see Myself.’ Participants may wish to write their responses knowing there is no feedback on this section. [allow 10-15 mins]
D. Whole group divides into twos and threes to discuiss and respond to one of the case studyes outlined. [allow 15 mins]
Timing: Overall allow 45-60 minutes
Below are some suggestions of areas you might like to explore for your reflections and insight.
You need only select one of the bullet points here or suggest one area of your own:
• What is really happening with regard this patient?
• What was interesting or worrying?
• What can you conclude generally about the situation this patient is in?
• What did the patient say and think about their illness? (if appropriate)
• What were the patient’s ideas, concerns and expectations?
• What did the staff say and think? (if appropriate)
• What has been done well with regard this patient’s care?
• What should be done differently next time?
• What did you learn about yourself?
• Can you identify future learning needs?
Some examples of questions or prompts for de-briefing activities:
• What was the one most important insight you had today? Why was it important?
• How does your experience in this activity relate to your usual learning?
• Have your views or assumptions (on this issue) changed in any way? Why do you hold those views? What values do they represent?
• Imagine some different ways of looking at this issue. How might others see this issue differently? How do you think Person X in Position Y would see this issue? Why?
Some personal questions to develop reflective practice and awareness of learning processes:
• How did you feel about this exercise? Why do you think you had that response?
• Did this activity give you any insight into how you learn?
• Can you see a connection between your emotions and your learning?
• How do you prefer to learn new things? What new forms of learning would you like to explore?
• How would you characterise the shifts in your perceptions, if any? And what are the implications for how you study, work, get involved?
• Did the activity reveal to you academic or professional skills you want to develop?
Reflective Exercise - How do I see Myself?
Our self-image is important because it determines our behaviour and our response to other people.
Our interpersonal relationships depend on how aware we are of ourselves.
Who am I? What are my strengths? What are my weaknesses? What is important in my life, my priorities? What influences me from my past? How do I respond to praise? To criticism? How do I say or show that I care?
Write a list of adjectives which describe you – this may include: physical features, personality characteristics, abilities, beliefs, moral values, or roles.
Look over your list and notice which things you consider desirable, while others may be less desirable.
Try to decide which things about yourself you value most and which you think other people value.
Case Study 1
Chaplain on a routine visit to a ward came across a patient who was sitting up in bed reading a Gideon Bible. On introducing herself as the chaplain the patient started to engage in conversation. “I am glad to meet you, I was wondering if there was a chaplain in the hospital? I picked up this bible from the locker and am finding it very interesting. I have always been fascinated by religion. I don’t go to church myself but I am interested in all the different religions of the world. I’ve got nothing else to do here and time is so long I thought I would read the bible from beginning to end.” The chaplain enquired which part of the bible he was reading at the moment. The patient was reading the Psalms. He had read the first 4 Gospels and was getting confused by the different accounts and so he thought he would read the Psalms. The chaplain explained the possible reason for the inconsistencies emphasizing that the heart of the story was essentially the same. The patient understood the explanation and then proceeded to talk about the God who would send plagues on the people of Egypt.
He could not accept a God who would do such a thing as it seemed so unreasonable.
For Discussion
How would you respond to such a patient?
Case Study 2
Elderly patient on a cardiac ward. The chaplain introduced herself.
Chaplain“ Hello, I’m x the hospital chaplain.”
Patient “Oh, how lovely, I’ve been wanting to talk to a minister. What religion are you?”
Chaplain “I’m a bit of everything really, I was brought up in the Presbyterian Church…
Patient “Oh I thought that was in Ireland and Scotland,
Chaplain, I was brought up there but I was ordained an Anglican.”
Patient “I’m a Baptist, always been a Baptist. My husband is a Baptist too, he was baptised, completed covered in water. There is something that is worrying me, I wonder if you can help me with it? My husband died a few years ago and I do so miss him. I know he is with God, he was a good man. But will I go to be with him when I die as I haven’t been baptised?
Discuss these questions:
What are the pastoral needs? What are the spiritual and religious needs?
Case Study 3
Case Study 3: Pastoral Care with Religious Support
A verbatim account of a chaplaincy visit The Patient was known to the chaplain and had visited her frequently during her numerous stays in hospital. As the chaplain approached her curtained cubicle the doctors were just leaving, nurses looked grave. The doctor asked the nurse to call the next of kin. The chaplain realised that something serious was now going on for M.
Chaplain ‘Hello M’ Patient opened her eyes and smiled and said hello,
Patient ‘I’ve been waiting to see you. I want to talk to you.’ The patient looked peaceful. She had an oxygen mask over her nose and mouth. Chaplain reached out and held the patient’s hand and said,
Chaplain ‘How are you doing today?’
Patient ‘I am feeling hopeless. ‘I’ve been knocked about such a lot, I feel hopeless.’ At this point the nurse came in and started to prepare her for another procedure. She put up a drip and left.
Chaplain ‘You wanted to talk to me M’
Patient ‘Yes, I don’t know what’s happening, I’ve had a blood transfusion and now another drip, but I still trust in Him.’
Chaplain ‘Yes you know that God will look after you. He will take care of you. There is nothing that is going to happen to you that isn’t already in God’s hands.’
Patient ‘Yes I know that. I’ve had a good life. God has been good to me. I pray all the time. But I am so tired.’
Chaplain ‘M. I want you to know that when you become too tired to pray there are many others who are praying for you.’ ‘M, is there a scripture that brings you most comfort now.?’
Patient. ‘In my father’s house are many mansions….’
Chaplain ‘Yes that is lovely it is one of my favourites. It is in John 14.
M started to recite ‘Let not your hearts be troubled, trust in God trust also in me, In my father’s house are many dwelling places….’ She breaks off and says, ‘I think I want to go there now. I am ready if God wants me.’
Chaplain ‘Yes M God may be getting your room ready. When it’s ready he will come and meet you and it will be all right. He will take you by the hand and lead you through.’
With that, the nurse and porter came into the room to collect her.
Chaplain ‘I’ll come and see you when you come back. Don’t worry, you will be all right.’
For Discussion
What were the pastoral, spiritual and religious considerations of this visit?
Case Study 4
Mr P was a gentleman who had been employed in heavy industry and had been actively involved in local politics throughout his life. He spoke out for different causes and as he said, ‘I made enemies as I spoke the truth’. He was a gentleman who frowned on any religious presence and yet one Christmas he attended the Carol Service in the hospital. On leaving the Service he stuck his thumbs up in acknowledgement that he had enjoyed the service. Mr P did enjoy a good chat and held forthright views on a range of subjects.
For Discussion
How could one represent Chaplaincy in a positive way to a person such as Mr P?
What resources could be employed in providing Spiritual Care for Mr P?
How does one go about removing any barriers between the patient and Chaplain?
Optional Music to conclude ‘Stuck in the Middle with You’ Song by Stealers Wheel
