HCA Course 5, 8, 9 Clinical Reflection Assignment
Clinical Reflection Assignment
Self-reflection is important for you to undertake as a health care aide. Reflection
allows for growth to take place and for you to ultimately improve on your
competencies in practice.
The purpose of this assignment is to assist you in reflecting on your practice. The
process of self-reflection helps you recognize your own learning needs, goals,
strengths, and areas for improvement.
Use the diagram below, based on the Gibbs Reflective Practice (Wilding, 2008), to
guide your reflection.
1. What
happened (the
story)?
6. What would 2. What were
you do you thinking
differently if and feeling?
the situation What actions
arose again? did you take
Why? and why?
Reflective
Process
5. What other 3. What do you
options were think others
open to you? involved
(What could thought and
you have done felt?
differently?) 4. What makes
you think that
was how the
others thought
and felt?
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HCA Course 5, 8, 9 Clinical Reflection Assignment
Instructions for Clinical Instructor
This reflection assignment should be done at least once during the clinical
placement. You can encourage the learner to do more reflections if you feel it will
be in the learner’s best interest and if time permits.
Explain what self-reflection is and why it is important for improvement in
practice.
Identify when you want the reflection handed in.
Instruct the learner to pick one event during the shift that stands out for
them and complete the reflection exercise.
The learner will hand in the written reflection, and the clinical instructor
should mark it using the rubric provided at the end of this document.
Instructions for Learners
● Maintain client confidentiality when completing this assignment. (Do not use
any client identifiers in your reflection.)
● Type your answers to the reflection and submit to your instructor. It should
be no more than two pages.
● Your instructor will review the reflection and grade it as complete or
incomplete based on the rubric at the end of this document.
Reflective Process Steps
The bullet point questions are some suggested ways you can answer the main
questions. You may also answer in other ways if you choose.
1. Think about your clinical day and choose one significant situation that
occurred in clinical practice. What happened? Write out your story.
● Describe the situation in detail (what occurred, who was involved, how
those involved responded, what your role was in the situation).
● Identify the HCA CARE principles that are applicable to the situation
(e.g., observable facts, client signs and symptoms etc.).
● Be clear and concise.
2. What were you thinking and feeling? What actions did you take and why?
● Explore how you felt and the thoughts you had during the situation.
● Explore how your thoughts and feelings influenced your actions.
3. What do you think others involved thought and felt?
● Explore how others in this situation might have thought and felt. This
will help you to develop empathy towards others by “putting yourself
in their shoes.”
4. What makes you think that was how the others thought and felt (how do you
know)?
● Analyze how you perceived (understood) the motives and reactions of
others to the situation and why.
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HCA Course 5, 8, 9 Clinical Reflection Assignment
5. What other options were open (available) to you? What could you have done
differently?
● This section allows you to reflect on your decision making and the
consequences of your actions.
● Explore the other options or actions that you could have taken.
● Use your knowledge from your theory courses, and use your textbooks
or other resources to help you explore and interpret the situation.
● If you use information from your course materials, such as your text
books, please remember to reference them correctly at the end of your
reflection.
6. What would you do differently if the situation arose again? Why?
● This section will allow you to explore what you would do differently if
the situation or a similar situation arose. This is where you will show
your growth as an HCA.
● What were your strengths, and how did they help you?
● What were your limitations, and what will you do to improve on them?
● How did reflecting on this situation help you grow as a professional?
● Was there any feedback given to you by the client, the collaborative
care team, fellow learners, or your instructor that you can use to
improve your practice? What was it?
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HCA Course 5, 8, 9 Clinical Reflection Assignment
Example Reflection
The following is an example reflection to guide you.
Situation (Story)
I was caring for a client who suffered from memory loss. Mr. A was becoming more
anxious around 4 p.m. As I went to approach the client, he appeared very tired and
afraid. The first thoughts that went through my mind were to consider what
behaviour the client was displaying and what I could do to help the client.
What was I thinking and feeling? What actions did you take and why?
As I approached the clients’ room, I was able to think about memory loss and
dementia and recall that anxiety is a common symptom, especially in the early
stages. I realized that as I approached my client, he might feel afraid and get
upset. My first feeling was fear. I was worried that I would not know how to
approach my client, and I did not want to make him upset. I had many questions in
my head.
How should I approach him?
What should I say?
What about my non-verbals?
How will I deal with this type of situation when I am no longer a student?
What HCA CARE principles apply in this situation?
I did not have all the answers to these questions right away.
I can apply the HCA competency profile core competencies, specifically domain 4:
communication. This domain refers to the knowledge and skills required to develop,
build, and maintain collaborative working relationships with the client, family, and
other members of the health-care team.
I knew that I would need to make sure that I listen to my client and that I would
have to adapt my communication style with him because of the memory loss. My
client wanted to go home; I tried to explain that he was at home, but he argued
that he was not at home. I quickly realized that he was tired and just couldn’t
remember where he was. I asked him if he would like me to take him home. He
seemed to relax and was willing to come with me as I took him back to his room. I
spoke in a soft, calm, and even tone. I pointed out things to him that he might
recognize as we headed towards his room. When we got to his room, I said that he
was home. I realized that as an HCA, I will have to “recognize, interpret, and
respond appropriately to non-verbal cues” and adapt my communication style when
speaking with someone who has obstacles to communication because of their
cognitive barriers (Alberta Health, 2018, p. 8).
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HCA Course 5, 8, 9 Clinical Reflection Assignment
What were the thoughts and feelings of others involved? How do I know?
When I approached my client, I saw that the LPN was busy administering
medications to another patient. She did not express any real feelings towards the
experience and seemed to recognize that this was something that happened on a
regular basis with my client because of his diagnosis of dementia.
My client seemed to feel frightened. It seemed hard for him to recognize that he
cannot remember where he is or even express that he was tired. I would think it
would also be frustrating for him.
What other options were open to me? What could I have done differently?
I could have asked the LPN for help, but I realized that when I am out working as
an HCA, I will have to handle these types of situations on my own. After reading
through my textbook, I realized that I could have used validation therapy, provided
reassurance, distraction, and recollection of past memories so that he would feel
safe and secure. I recognize that I did provide reassurance and used recollection
once we got back to his room.
What would I do if the situation arose again? Why?
I would look at the care plan for the clients I am in charge of to make sure that I
know their routine, for example, look to see if they had a rest period right after
lunch or sometime in the afternoon. By doing this, I could plan ahead and ensure
that the client was back in their room in familiar surroundings. I could also try
distraction techniques by showing him pictures or reading to him; this way he
might not have felt afraid. Overall, I feel that my communication approach was
fairly effective, and I would use active listening and looking at non-verbals to help
me approach clients. I will also review my notes on communication with a client
who is diagnosed with dementia.
Reference: Alberta Government. (2018, April). Alberta health care aide competency
profile. Retrieved November 9, 2021, from
[Link]
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HCA Course 5, 8, 9 Clinical Reflection Assignment
Marking Rubric
In order to get a grade of complete in this reflection, you must receive a
complete score in at least four of the stages of the reflection.
Criteria Complete Incomplete
Story (Situation) ● Provided enough ● Did not provide
detail to explain the enough detail to
situation explain the situation
● Identified the ● Did not identify the
appropriate CARE appropriate CARE
principles that apply principles that apply
Personal Thinking and ● Identified their ● Did not identify their
Feeling and Actions Taken thoughts and feelings thoughts and feelings
about the situation about the situation
● Discussed actions ● Did not discuss
taken actions taken
Thoughts and Feelings of ● Analyzed how they ● Did not analyze how
Others and How This is perceived the motives they perceived the
Known and reactions of motives and reactions
others to the situation of others to the
● Provided examples to situation
indicate how/why they ● Did not provide
perceived those examples to indicate
motives based on how/why they
client behaviours and perceived those
interactions motives based on
client behaviours and
interactions
Other Options ● Explored other options ● Did not explore other
or actions that could options or actions that
have been taken could have been taken
● Supported points with ● Did not support points
knowledge from with knowledge from
theory courses theory courses
Future Situations ● Identified strengths ● Did not identify
and how they helped strengths and how
in the situation they helped in the
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HCA Course 5, 8, 9 Clinical Reflection Assignment
Criteria Complete Incomplete
● Identified limitations situation
and how to improve
● Did not identify
for future practice
limitations and how to
● Identified how improve for future
reflecting improves practice
practice as an HCA
● Did not identify how
reflecting improves
practice as an HCA
Format ● Reflection was ● Reflection was
organized disorganized
● Spelling and grammar ● Many spelling and/or
appropriate grammar errors
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HCA Course 5, 8, 9 Clinical Reflection Assignment
References
Alberta Government. (2018, April). Alberta health care aide competency profile.
Retrieved November 9, 2021, from
[Link]
Wilding, P. M. (2008). Reflective practice: a learning tool for student nurses. British
Journal of Nursing. 17(11), 720-724.
[Link]
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