Gibb’s Cycle of Reflection Sample
Description:
As a nursing student, I recently had the opportunity to participate in a clinical rotation at a long-term care facility. During this rotation, I was tasked with caring for a resident who had been diagnosed with both dementia and Type 2 diabetes.
Feelings:
One of the challenges I faced in caring for this resident was managing her glucose levels. Despite following the prescribed insulin regimen, her levels were often unstable, leading to frequent fluctuations in her mood and behavior.
Evaluation:
In order to address this issue, I turned to the nursing literature to identify best practices for managing glucose levels in patients with dementia. Through my research, I came across an article by Doe et al. (2017) which described the use of a continuous glucose monitoring system (CGMS) in this patient population.Analysis:
Based on the evidence presented in this article, I proposed the use of a CGMS to my clinical instructor and the resident’s healthcare team. After discussing the potential benefits and risks of this intervention, we decided to proceed with implementing the CGMS.
Conclusion:
The results of using the CGMS were significant. Within just a few days, we were able to identify patterns in the resident’s glucose levels that had previously gone unnoticed. This allowed us to make adjustments to her insulin regimen and diet, resulting in more stable glucose levels and a marked improvement in her mood and behavior.
Action Plan:
The  experience reinforced the importance of staying current on the nursing literature and using evidence-based practices in patient care. By using the Gibb’s Reflective Cycle (Gibbs, 1988), I was able to identify a problem, seek out evidence to inform my practice, and make a change that had a positive impact on my patient’s care.
References:
Doe, J., Smith, M., & Johnson, R. (2017). Continuous glucose monitoring in patients with dementia: A systematic review. Journal of Gerontological Nursing, 43(10), 23-30.
Gibbs, G. (1988). Learning by doing: A guide to teaching and learning methods. Oxford: Further Education Unit, Oxford Polytechnic.