How to be a better clinician with reflective practice
30 April 2021
Spring 2021
Thinking about your experiences to gain insights into your practice, improve patient care and the way you work is all part of reflective practice. Sophie Goodchild explores how to bring the learning tool into personal clinical practice.
Reflective practice (RP) looks back in order to move forward. It’s a skill that encourages deep thinking about events, focusing on what actually happened, decisions made and the consequences.
Everyone has ways of processing both positive and negative occurrences, but RP requires conscious, continuous and sustained effort (Koshy et al, 2017). Even a conversation with a colleague can generate meaningful insights if practitioners set aside time to reflect and make RP routine.
The learning approach is important for healthcare providers because it can lead to improvements in the quality and safety of care given to patients, is looked upon favourably by employers, and can assist optometrists in managing challenging professional situations.
Not already a member of the College?
Start enjoying the benefits of College membership today. Take a look at what the College can offer you and view our membership categories and rates.
Related further reading
The College of Optometrists and the Association of Optometrists welcome reports of the government’s proposals to introduce mandatory eye tests at licence renewal, every three years, for drivers over the age of 70.
Make your eye health a priority in 2026 – top tips for good eye health.
The College of Optometrists and the Association of Optometrists say new research shows “current vision checks aren’t keeping pace with what’s needed to keep everyone safe on the road”