The written reflective accounts for revalidation encourage you as a nurse (or midwife) to reflect on your practice to recognise changes or improvements more quickly to your practice or what you have learned. You must also demonstrate that you have considered how this connects to the Code and documented this as part of your reflective account.
What are the minimum requirements for reflective accounts?
You must have completed five written reflection accounts in the three years after your registration was last renewed, or you joined the register. Reflective account demands from your organisation or agency may necessitate you to write an account in response to an event or complaint.
How to make a written reflective account?
You can include anything that reflects your practice as a nurse in your written reflection. You can write your reflective account about:
- CPD training
- An event or experience in practice
- Any feedback (verbal, written, official, or informal) you have received regarding yourself or your team
Note: While writing your reflective account, take care not to include any information that might be used to identify another individual, user, or service provider.
How to write a reflective account for NMC revalidation?
There are several approaches to creating a reflective account. It may be printed either online or by hand.
There are the following best practices to follow while writing a reflective account:
- ‘Title’ — make it descriptive and straightforward.
- ‘Date’ – Just the month and year should be used.
- ‘How did the CPD activity/practice-related feedback come about?’
- ‘What did you learn from the CPD activity and feedback?’ – This is where you set the scene by stating what happened or what you attended.
- ‘How did you modify or enhance your work by attending the CPD?’ – Try to keep your response emotion-free. Explain how similar circumstances may be avoided or improved in the future. Remember, it does not have to be negative; it may also be positive.
- ‘How does this relate to the Code?’ – Describe how your experience relates to the Code. This does not have to be a formal essay. Your reflective report might be about all four or just one, but it must explain how.
Conclusions
Written reflective accounts are necessary to encourage nurses, midwives, and nursing assistants to reflect on their work to identify any improvements or adjustments due to what they have learned.