Reflection Upon Listening Skills

Reflection is very important in clinical practice. Each of us has the desire to be successful and that can be achieved by learning every day from our work experiences. In this way, we can reconsider and rethink our previous understanding and add to our knowledge base so as to improve our practice. Learning new skills does not stop with the completion of formal education; it must become second nature to all professionals as they continue their professional development throughout their careers (Jasper, 2006).

In keeping within current legislation on the protection and respect of an individuals’ right of anonymity, (Polit and Beck 2007), and to confidentiality, (Munhall 2007), any and all possible identifiable characteristics of the client have either been altered or omitted entirely where the potential for identification of the client was seen as possible or probable. I shall refer to the patient whom I worked with as "Missy" however, due to the aforementioned the gender of the client should not be deemed as either factual or an alteration.

Missy was labeled as “hard to handle”, a “bell ringer” and “non-compliant” by the fellow nursing staff. Missy had suffered from a life long struggle with mental illness and was currently experiencing a hurdle with her mental status. Her history included multiple hospital visits related to mental health, falls, joint replacement surgeries, infections, and much more. Missy was over weight, difficult to assess and lacked personal hygiene interest. Often times, it was very difficult to communicate with as her as her mental illness caused barriers and blind spots. Missy’s thoughts jumped around in her mind and it was difficult for her to focus on one thing at a time when interacting with other...

... middle of paper ...

...e Quarterly, 23(1), 22-27. doi:10.1177/0894318409353805.

Helminski, K. E. 1992. Living presence: A Sufi way to mindfulness and the

essential self. New York: Tarcher/Putnam.

Jasper, M. (2006) Professional Development, Reflection and Decision-making (Vital Notes for Nurses), Wiley-Blackwell; 1 edition 15 Nov 2006

Munhall, P. (2007) Nursing research: A qualitative perspective. 4th Ed. Jones and Bartlett Publishers. Sudbury. p523.

Parse, Rosemarie Rizzo. (2003) Community: A Human Becoming Perspective. Loyola University, Chicago, Illinois

Peavey, F. (2003) Strategic Questioning Manual. Crabgrass. Web 27 May 2015.

http://www.gettysburg.edu/dotAsset/6b2841ef-2185-4924-888f-bbe0349338ca.pdf

Polit, D., Beck, C. (2007) Nursing research: Generating and assessing evidence for nursing practice. 8th Ed. Lippincott Williams and Wilkins. Philadelphia. p180.