Self-Reflection Tool
School of Nursing and Personal Support Studies
Name: Week #:
Please reflect on your clinical day/lab experience/class assignment using Borton’s (1970) model of reflection:
WHAT, SO WHAT, NOW WHAT.
Refer to the guidelines/instructions below the boxes for more information on how to complete your reflection.
What? What happened? What did you observe? What events or incidents occurred? What issue was being
addressed? Who was involved (no client identifiers)?
On the first day of clinical, we as a group participated in a skills refresher lab which was meant to practice a
variety of essential nursing skills we had previously learned. This included basic and complex wound care,
vital signs assessment, hand hygiene and donning/doffing of PPE, head-to-toe assessments, and transfer and
mobility techniques using proper body mechanics.
Throughout the day, I was able to observe other classmates demonstrating these skills on mannequins and
each other where appropriate, which helped me remembered the little details I would tend to forget. Being
able to communicate back and forth and problem solve with a partner helped feel more confident in our skills.
We practiced applying sterile dressings, selecting appropriate dressings based on wound characteristics.
We reviewed infection prevention and control measures, particularly hand hygiene before and after each
patient interaction and the correct order of PPE application and removal. Overall, this refresher addressed the
reinforced the importance of safe, evidence-based practice before working directly with patients in the field.
So What? What did you learn? How did you feel? What surprised you? What did that experience mean to
you? How did you respond?
This experience was both reassuring and a lesson. I felt like we all retained our theoretical knowledge, but
over our last semester with no lab course and a break, we lost a little touch with those skills. Consistent
hands-on practice is crucial to me as a nurse as my duty is to be able to provide competent care for my
patients. I felt a mixture of nervousness and motivation, nervous about making errors but motivated to
improve through repetition and feedback. I learned that while I had a foundational understanding of wound
care, there were areas where I needed improvement, particularly in ensuring consistent aseptic technique.
I was surprised by how many small but significant steps can be overlooked. I also realized that teamwork and
discussions with other peers helped reinforce my memory and reduced anxiety. I was surprised that back in
the days, it would be a ‘blitz’ where one could fail the refresher and not be able to continue. Even when I
know my skills, I would’ve messed up in an environment like such. I am glad that has changed. I think
constructive feedback is a great way to enhance skills and build on them.
This refresher was able to give me a safe environment to correct mistakes and identify learning gaps before
transitioning into patient care at a complex care unit. I responded by taking notes, asking clarifying questions,
and noting areas for improvement. I consistently asked my partner to watch me as a I do it to correct my
mistakes and this helped a lot.
