When working in an emergency care setting there are times when different professions will cross paths. While on placement I have worked with other health care professionals such as nurses, doctors, consultants, GP’s, social workers, care workers and other paramedics such as advanced paramedics.
I have been working closely with A&E nurses while handing over my patients. We have a good working relationship and work well together when we follow the correct pathways. This working relationship can sometimes suffer when A&E is busy and there isn’t sufficient time for handovers meaning it is rushed, the nurses do not have enough time to copy all the information over and sometimes information can be missed. It is essential we do our best to make sure all the necessary information has been transferred to keep patients safe and to give them their required treatment. While on placement there has been times when I have had to reflect over a job. In these circumstances I have used the IFEAR reflection model. The IFEAR model compromises of 5 stages: Incident, feelings, evaluation, analysis, reaction/response.
Looking further into each stage, starting with stage 1, incident.
- Incident- The first stage is describing the incident, the call and reason for paramedic assistance, how the patient presented and details of your actions. This stage should only be a summery of the clinical details.
- Feelings- The second stage is describing your feelings towards the incident, how you felt before arrival, during and after reflection.
- Evaluation of care- The third stage is describing the evaluation of care. Where the patients care needs met, did any needs go unmet? Was the patient cared for and managed in a way you would be happy to be treated?
- Analysis- Stage 4 is analysis, analysing your clinical knowledge, non-clinical knowledge, skill, or attitude. Where there any gaps in your knowledge or skill base? Did you feel like you managed the condition correctly?
- Reaction and response- The fifth stage is your reaction and response to any of the patients unmet needs and paramedics educational needs. Reaction is where you will plan how to address the missing clinical knowledge, non-clinical knowledge, attitude or skill. What would you do to make things better for next time? Could this be speaking to colleagues or attending training. Finally, its time to write about what you have found in response to your identified educational needs. It is here that you describe what you have learned and show how this new knowledge will improve future practices. This stage completes the IFEAR cycle, from here new knowledge can be applied to future emergency calls and incidents. (smart, 2017)
By using this reflection model it has given me the ability to digest the jobs I have come across but also learn from them making sure I continue to do certain aspects and not do other aspects I wasn’t happy with.
Student paramedic E-portfolio 