Bev Taylor

Technical, practical, and emancipatory reflection for practicing holistically.

The intention to practice holistically brings with it many complexities in deciding how to manage the contingencies of practice in such a way as to embody the central tenets of holistic nursing. The challenge of making sense of daily work procedures, interpersonal interactions, and issues of power can be eased by attention to reflective processes designed for nursing practice. Reflective nurses who practice holistically optimize the likelihood of thinking systematically through practice issues as they encounter the world of nursing and the people and events within it. This article is an exploration of the phenomena of holism and reflection as they relate to technical, practical, and emancipatory reflective processes used by nurses in their daily work.

Stories of resistance and healing in the process of leaving abusive relationships

Abstract This article examines the unexpected outcomes of a research project that explored the informal support needs of women leaving abusive relationships.The women not only identified informal supports, they also appreciated the time the research offered them to talk about the violent situations, as well as their healing journeys of leaving relationships to sustain their lives without violence. The womens healing journeys were complex and unstable and the feminist approach used in this research empowered participants to acknowledge their abuse, resist the effects of that abuse, and begin their journeys of recovery.The implications of the findings for best nursing practice and models of service delivery are provided.

Overcoming obstacles in becoming a reflective nurse and person

Abstract As a practical approach to overcoming obstacles in being a reflective nurse and person, this article confirms the personhood of nurses, and describes some types and methods of reflection, and their uses at work and in everyday home life. Practical and theoretical obstacles are identified, and strategies are offered for overcoming them.

Palliative nurses' perceptions of the nature and effects of their work

This paper presents some of the qualitative findings from a recent research project, which explored the nature and effects of palliative nursing care for nurses, in New South Wales, Australia. By using story telling as the research methodology the participants related their experiences about palliative care nursing practice in which they felt they did or did not make a difference to the people in their care. The results of this project clearly demonstrated that the nature of palliative nursing is expressed by nurses dealing with death, making connections, making contracts, demonstrating advocacy, building interpersonal relationships, requiring family and colleague support and involvement in issues. The effects of palliative nursing were described as whether nurses were able to find solutions; facilitate breakthroughs, acceptance and support; reflect of their values and feelings.

Promoting self-help strategies by sharing the lived experience of arthritis

Abstract A qualitative approach informed by the phenomenological concept of lived experience using semi-structured interviews explored the experience of living with arthritis. Audio-taped transcribed conversations were analysed using a computerassisted thematic analysis procedure. Strategies were offered for managing mornings, ensuring personal comfort, keeping a positive attitude, doing housework, cooking and meals, getting exercise, existing in day-to-day life, living at a slower pace, acknowledging feelings, dealing with depression, trying alternative treatments, accepting illness, getting sleep and rest, getting help, using help and handy gadgets, having emotional support, having determination, managing pain relief, using distractions, making adjustments, planning ahead, maintaining independence, having a social life, managing stress, adapting around young children, and facilitating self-awareness.

Beyond Reflection: Cake and Co-operative Inquiry

Issues arising during a participatory action research project with a group of midwives are explored, in particular, those related to group process, membership, and roles. A Midwives Action Research Group established an Early Mothering Group for women in hospital to talk to each other and form supportive social networks. The time-honored ritual of sharing morning tea and cake allowed both midwives and mothers to experience the therapeutic potential and power of womens ordinary talk.

Technical reflection for improving nursing and midwifery procedures using critical thinking in evidence based practice.

Abstract Australian nursing and midwifery education and practice have used key ideas relating to reflective practice since the 1980s. However, missing from that history has been a clear process for reflection when policies and procedures have required change, based on evidence generated from rigorous research and critical thinking processes. This article describes technical reflection as a systematic process for analysing and amending work procedures in nursing and midwifery practice, by combining key ideas in the nursing process, critical thinking and reflection.

TOPIC: The role of qualitative research in evidence based practice

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