Advancing the quality of oncology nursing care: Interlink Community Cancer Nurses’ model for reflective practice

Doris Howell, Beth Pelton

Abstract


Since 1996, Interlink Community Cancer Nurses have been using

reflective practice as a team to share knowledge and experience

amongst peers. The use of reflective practice enables the nurse to

examine decision-making in patient situations and uncover the

knowledge and artistry that is embedded in nursing practice. This

article describes how reflection is practised by specialist cancer

nurses to advance the quality of caregiving. The use of a structured

framework for reflection which incorporates ways of knowing in

nursing is an essential feature of the Interlink model for reflection.

The development of a process for reflection within the Interlink

program has at times been challenging. However, the Interlink

nurses’ experience with reflection is believed to be critical to the

ongoing development of the program and the individual nurse.

Interlink nurses have found that guided reflection, the creation of an

environmental milieu for reflection and personal knowing, and selfevaluation

are critical to the process of becoming a self-reflective

practitioner.


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