Reflective paper

The end of any course should bring with it a sense of cumulative experience, the idea that several months worth of work has produced something you can take with you, that you have engaged in a process of thought and activities that adds up to something. When a person chooses to be a nurse, he or she has made a moral commitment to care for all patients. Such a decision to care is not to taken lightly.

Reflective Practice 

The act of writing, of choosing words and phrases that really sum up feelings and reactions, can really provide a focus for thinking about learning. Below is the What, So What, Now What? model for reflection. It is based on Kolb’s (1994) Experiential Learning Cycle Experiential Learning Cycle.

The "What?" -  Experiencing/Describing Phase – taking part in an activity, sharing reactions and observations. 
What were the most significant aspects of the information (this is not a general summary of the article/information)? How did I feel/react to this information? What personal experiences are relevant to this information?

The "So What?" - Inferring Phase – discussing implications, patterns, dynamics; generalizing. 
In what ways did this affirm or challenge my practice? How is this relevant to me? What questions has this raised? How can I make personal meaning from this?

These next 3 answers are identified in the So What section, but resolved in the Now What section: What ideas need further exploration? In what ways does this challenge me? What gaps in my knowledge or skills does this highlight? 

How can I use this learning? How will I explore these ideas further to fill gaps in skills or knowledge? What questions or problems arise from this? How will I address them? What changes do I need to make to my practice? How will I make these changes happen?

1. Reflect on of this course as a whole and your deliberate decision to become a caring, ethical nurse. Think about what you have learned about yourself, ethics, and the nursing profession in this class and in the nursing program so far.

2. Compose a reflective paper, no more than 3 pages in length, discussing the "What?", "So What?", and "Now What?"

Observe rules of grammar, spelling, and punctuation and demonstrate a good writing style and flow. Label 3 sections of the paper using each of the headings of What?, So What? and Now What?.

First person perspective is acceptable, as this is a personal reflection.

Title and reference pages are not required. References any resources should be written using APA format and placed at the end of the paper. In-text citation(s) of any resource is also required.