How did you approach the situation? How did you perform? How did the behaviors or choices of others impact you? What went well? What didn’t? Consider why things happened as they did. What assumptions did you and others make? What system factors may have contributed to this problem?

Critical Reflection Paper

STEP 1: CHIEF COMPLAINT/IDENTIFICATION
Choose an experience which triggered questions or concerns for you, such as a situation:
1) where you didn’t have the necessary knowledge or skills
2) that went well but you are not entirely sure why
3) which was complex, surprising, uncomfortable or uncertain
4) in which you felt personally or professionally challenged.

Note: this is about your learning so if you weren’t the major actor in the events you describe, consider why the experience stands out for you and what you can learn from it that will inform or further your professional development right now.

STEP 2: SUBJECTIVE
Describe the experience as fully as you can, including its content, processes, and premises:

o Consider what happened: the situation and context, including your thoughts and feelings at the time. (Content)

o Discuss how it happened. How did you approach the situation? How did you perform? How did the behaviors or choices of others impact you? What went well? What didn’t? (Process)

o Consider why things happened as they did. What assumptions did you and others make? What system factors may have contributed to this problem? (Premise)

STEP 3: OBJECTIVE
Reconsider the experience by obtaining
1) Other people’s perspectives: Use open-ended, open-minded questions (or tell the story in “S”) to elicit opinions, interpretations and feedback from mentors, supervisors, other professionals, patients, families, and/or peers, and/or

2) New data: Consult the medical literature or other sources of relevant information. Useful objective data will reframe the experience, identify key issues, and deepen your learning.

STEP 4: ASSESSMENT
Synthesize your learning: What educational, personal or professional strengths and weaknesses have you identified? How can you relate this experience to your past experiences to identify important challenges? What personal/professional patterns have you identified? How has this analysis affected how you will approach similar situations in the future? Look for larger learning/ professional development issues. Specify lessons learned or questions/learning issues identified.

STEP 5: PLAN
Make a plan to address future similar challenges. The plan should be SMART: Specific, Measurable, Attainable, Relevant and Timely. Include:

a) what specific next steps you will take;

b) where you can get the information or help you need;

c) who you will check in with and when; and

d) how you and your check-in person will know whether or not your plan is working.

If the plan is SMART, you should be able to assess the utility of your action items for furthering your learning or practice in days to weeks or months at the most.