Gibbs' Reflective Cycle is a popular model for reflection, developed by Graham Gibbs in 1988. It is a structured way of thinking about and reflecting on experiences, and can be used as a tool for personal or professional development. It is often used in healthcare settings, but can be applied to any situation in which reflection is useful.
The Gibbs Reflective Cycle consists of six stages: description, feelings, evaluation, analysis, conclusion, and action plan. These stages can be thought of as a cycle, with each stage leading naturally into the next.
Description: In this stage, the focus is on describing the situation or experience. It is important to be as specific and objective as possible, and to include all relevant details.
Feelings: In this stage, the focus is on how the experience made you feel. It is important to be honest and open about your emotions, and to consider how they may have influenced your actions or thoughts.
Evaluation: In this stage, the focus is on evaluating the experience. This may involve considering the positives and negatives of the situation, and reflecting on what worked well and what could have been done differently.
Analysis: In this stage, the focus is on analyzing the experience in more depth. This may involve considering the context in which the experience took place, and identifying any underlying issues or patterns.
Conclusion: In this stage, the focus is on drawing conclusions from the experience. This may involve identifying any lessons learned, or making connections between the experience and other experiences or knowledge.
Action plan: In this final stage, the focus is on developing an action plan based on the conclusions drawn in the previous stage. This may involve setting goals or making changes to how you approach similar situations in the future.
An example of how the Gibbs Reflective Cycle might be used in a healthcare setting is as follows:
A nurse has had an experience with a patient who was difficult to communicate with due to a language barrier.
Description: The nurse describes the situation, including the patient's limited English proficiency and the challenges this presented in terms of communication.
Feelings: The nurse reflects on how the situation made them feel, including feelings of frustration and disappointment at not being able to effectively communicate with the patient.
Evaluation: The nurse evaluates the situation, considering the positives (e.g., the patient was able to understand some basic instructions) and negatives (e.g., the nurse was not able to fully understand the patient's concerns and needs).
Analysis: The nurse analyzes the situation in more depth, considering the context in which it occurred (e.g., the patient was in a busy emergency department) and identifying any underlying issues (e.g., a lack of resources or training in language interpretation).
Conclusion: The nurse concludes that the situation could have been handled better, and identifies some potential solutions (e.g., seeking out language interpretation services or increasing training in communication with patients who have limited English proficiency).
Action plan: Based on these conclusions, the nurse develops an action plan for how to approach similar situations in the future. This may involve seeking out additional training or resources, or advocating for better language interpretation services within the healthcare organization.
In conclusion, the Gibbs Reflective Cycle is a useful tool for reflection and personal or professional development. By following the six stages of description, feelings, evaluation, analysis, conclusion, and action plan, individuals can gain insight and understanding from their experiences, and develop strategies for improvement in the future.
