Stephaine Ryan

NURS 324
Dr. Coon
Reflective Thinking


In the NURS 324 class we were required to complete at least three journal entries
reflecting on our way of thinking on topics that students were learning about that week. This was
the first class that I required students to complete journal entries. I must admit that these were
hard for me to complete correctly but, I think with each one I improved. I dont believe Im close
to be an expert with my critical thinking and using the EOR. I have areas to improve, but with
each entry I was more comfortable and improved my thinking and writing.
As the class started, the journals were very confusing for everyone. But, with more
instruction from Dr. Coon, the class improved. Especially, after we learned about Richard Paul
and his Elements of Reasoning (EOR). The grid that was provided helped arrange my thinking to
make my journal entries easier to read and make more sense.
In my first journal entry, I reflected on my results to the VARK quiz that we were asked
to take to evaluate how we learn best. This quiz told me that I was a kinetic learner and I learn
with my hands best. Upon reflecting more on how I learn, I also noticed that I learn a topic better
when real life examples were given. These seemed to help cement the ideas being presented into
my memory and show me how these topics are used in individual nursing practices. When Dr.
Coon was giving me her observations on how to improve my thinking, she stated that I should
think more deeply and broadly. This was still in the beginning of the semester before we
learned more about Richard Paul and using the EOR Grid that I found helpful when used while
writing. I was asked to analyze my thinking more clearly as well.
The second journal I wrote about learning the nursing theories presented in the learning
modules. As I was reflecting on the readings about the different types of theories the nurses had
developed I thought that my nursing most reflected was the Watson Theory of Caring. But, as I
was writing my journal entry and reflecting on the discussion posts of the other students I
realized that many nurses take parts from many different theories to come up with a nursing
theory they use to take care of their patients. I then thought that I also use different parts to make
up the properties of my own nursing practice. In the comments that Dr. Coon stated about this
journal was that I did an excellent reflective journal. She also states that I captured
metacognition beautifully. I really reflected on how my thinking changed during the week and
admitted that my thinking is ever changing as is my nursing. With each experience I gain, I
become a better nurse and a better thinker. But, I dont know if I will ever become an expert on
thinking. I will just improve at it and at applying it to my life and nursing.
In my third journal entry, I was reflecting on the discussion post of another student and
how it affected me. In this post a student commented on whether or not a patient in the
emergency room (ER) she worked was having real pain. I then wrote my journal entry about
how ineffective this type of nursing was and how it affects the way the patient is treated for their
pain. I wrote that even though are some patients seen in the ER are seeking drugs to get high,
many are not. I wanted to state the importance that we treat each patient on an individual basis
and how we would want our family treated. As Dr. Coon commented on my entry, I realized just
how much this journal entry sounded accusatory, full of emotion and my beliefs. I needed to be
more scholarly with my statements to help educate my fellow nurses. Dr. Coon states start your
thinking by clearly indicating your need to objectively examine this issue. Look objectively at
what information can help explain, describe or clarify the problem you are trying to address. I
think that re-enforces my thought I was getting too opinionated in my responses. She also states,
Be sure that you are thinking of all sides of the issue here. During this entry I was also getting
better at using the EOR Grid but not using it completely. Dr. Coon states, What I see above is
some of the EOR and then it appears that some of the elements are either missing or are unclear
to me.
In the levels of thinking I believe that Im at level three. In the assignment criteria, it
states that a level three thinker has a modest understanding of what thinking isdevelopment of
some skills or abilities and some of the knowledge and understanding that result from their
appropriate use. It also states, Emerging thinking skills, but some pronounced weakness as
well. I think that my journal entries one and three are examples of that and I discussed them
previously in this paper. As I have stated before that in these journals I needed to write more
effectively and objectively about my thinking. I show that I do understand what thinking is but,
was having a hard time keeping to the information to prove my point instead of getting to
opinionated and using I believe numerous times in one journal entry. In the comments after my
entries Dr. Coon states, I see above is some of the EOR and then it appears that some of the
elements are either missing or less clear to me. Be sure that you are thinking of all sides of the
issue here. These entries have me in the level three thinking. I have areas to improve on and I
think I will always have areas to improve on. I think that each of us is always improving with our
thinking and our nursing with each experience we have. I think that Im a better nurse and
thinker today than I was yesterday or even a week ago. I think that I am ever evolving and
continuously improving.
Also a level three thinker has some assignments [that] seem well done. On occasion
demonstrates a mind beginning to take charge of its own ideas, assumptions, inferences, and
intellectual processes, but occasionally seems to lack needed discipline and clarity. Also in the
assignment criteria it states, Sometimes recognizes key questionable assumptions, sometimes
identifies relevant competing points of view, and sometimes shows a general tendency to reason
carefully from clearly stated premises, as well as occasional recognition of important
implications and consequences. I think that my journal entry two that was discussed earlier fits
into this example. As previously stated in the paper discussing the journal entry, Dr. Coon
comments that metacognition is that we engage in it for the sole purpose of improving our own
thinking. Your last statement captures that intent beautifully. She also states that this journal has
great insight and you have really demonstrated the ability to critically examine your own
thinking with the realization that these discussions over the past few weeks have had a fairly
profound impact on how you view your own nursing world.
As I have reviewed my reflective journals and studied the criteria for thinking my level of
thinking is in the third level. Some of my writing has shown that I do think critically and well. It
also shows that I can keep objective and use information to help defend my thinking. But, I do
have some writings that show that I need to improve my thinking. I also believe that I will
always be improving and I dont know if I will ever be a level five thinker. Maybe after I have a
number of years of nursing and life experiences I will be able to obtain level five but, Im not
sure if that will ever happen.