Self-reflective Practice and Self-care

According to Sist et al. (2022), self-care for nurses means the intentional and proactive undertaking of activities that serve their body, mind, emotions and spirit in its entirety. As Richards et al. (2014) asserts, self-care is mandatory as it contributes to nurses being ethical and able to provide suitable care to patients. It also ensures that nurses are physically and psychologically okay. High stress, long hours, and emotional labour lead to the necessity of nurses caring for themselves to retain both their professional integrity and personal health: Self-reflective Practice and Self-care.

Positive Outcomes of Practicing Self-Care in Nursing

Decreases Burnout and Enhances Coping Skills

Focusing on self-care can really decrease emotional exhaustion, compassion fatigue, as well as physical stress. Wei et al. (2025) assert that nurses who tend to care for themselves are more resilient and also manage workplace stressors far better.

Improves Overall Health and Job Satisfaction

Self-care activities such as regular exercise, healthy nutrition, enough sleep and mindfulness activities are shown to increase mood, energy and job satisfaction (Sist et al., 2022). Nurses who care for themselves become more engaged and motivated in their jobs.

Reflective Journaling

Reflective journaling is a form of self-expression that enables an individual to record their reflections, feelings, experiences, and thoughts. It is especially useful for nurses as it enables emotional processing, critical thinking, and professional growth, according to Murillo-Llorente et al. (2021). Journaling facilitates reflection on clinical practice experiences, the identification of learning moments, and the gaining of greater self-awareness. Journaling also prompts nurses to stop and consider their reactions, challenges, and achievements.

Reflective Journaling Methods

Freewriting

Freewriting consists of continuous, uninterrupted writing for a small period without worrying about grammar, spelling or structure. This unfiltered method also encourages authenticity and some emotional release, clearing up what is on the nurses’ minds (Alharthi, 2021).

Three-Step Approach

This method includes: 1) critical self-appraisal, 2) peer group discussion, and 3) enhanced self-awareness. It encourages deep reflection and is especially effective in clinical debriefings and case reviews (Murillo-Llorente et al., 2021).

Nursing Scenario Where Reflective Journaling Can Be Used

A nurse working in a medical-surgical unit is assigned to a patient with a terminal illness. Despite her efforts, the patient passed away during her shift. The nurse feels emotionally drained and questions her ability to handle such situations.

Later, she writes in her journal to explore her emotions, evaluate her response, and reflect on how she supported the patient and family. This helps her process grief and prepare for future end-of-life care situations.

Personal Scenario Where Reflective Journaling Can Be Used

After experiencing a heated disagreement with a family member, a nurse may feel emotionally overwhelmed. By journaling about the event, she can explore her emotions, recognize communication breakdowns, and gain perspective. Reflecting on the situation helps her identify strategies for future conversations and promotes emotional regulation in both personal and professional interactions.

Potential Positive Outcomes of Reflective Journaling

Increases Emotional Intelligence and Self-Awareness

Regular journaling allows nurses to identify emotional patterns and reactions. Over time, this practice strengthens emotional intelligence, helping them respond thoughtfully rather than react impulsively (Sohal et al., 2022).

Enhances Clinical Judgment and Learning

Reflective journaling deepens critical thinking and promotes learning from experience. Nurses can track their growth, assess decision-making, and document lessons learned, all of which support continuous improvement (Murillo-Llorente et al., 2021).

Positive Effects of Reflective Journaling on Self-Care

Rebuilds Compassion and Reduces Fatigue

Reflective journaling allows nurses to reconnect with their values and the purpose behind their work. As stated by Murillo-Llorente et al. (2021), it acts as stress relief, restores a person’s empathy, and lowers the effects of burnout caused by stress.

Supports Personal Growth and Resilience

A reflective journal serves as a medium for keeping a record in which nurses own up to their psychological and mental wellness. However, it helps to build resilience as it allows self-reflection in a thoughtful manner which ultimately helps in goal setting and mindfulness in practice.

Additional Resources About Self-Care for Nurses

American Nurses Foundation – Well-Being Initiative

This nationwide program offers a collection of evidence-based wellness tools specifically designed for nurses. It offers virtual peer support groups, free counselling apps, guided writing groups, resilience training, and self-assessment tools. The program is designed to target such striking problems as burnout, moral distress, anxiety, and trauma by offering accessible, nurse-centered interventions. Its focus on emotional and mental wellness ensures that nurses are personally and professionally nurtured through high-stress clinical experiences and long-term career pressures.

Mindful.org

Mindful.org (https://www.mindful.org/) is a site that focuses on developing mindfulness and emotional wellness using evidence-based interventions. It has an extensive range of features that include guided meditations, breathing techniques, stress management, and mindful communication. Through these, nurses are able to remain present, enhance concentration, reduce worry, and build emotional resilience.

The content is suitable for novice and veteran practitioners and thus forms an effective self-care resource. Its emphasis on presence and reflection enacts holistic healing and enduring well-being in nursing practice.

References

Alharthi, S. (2021). From instructed writing to free-writing: A study of EFL Learners. SAGE Open, 11(1). https://doi.org/10.1177/21582440211007112

Murillo-Llorente, M. T., Navarro-Martínez, O., Valle, V. I., & Pérez-Bermejo, M. (2021). Using the reflective journal to improve practical skills integrating affective and self-critical aspects in impoverished international environments. A pilot test. International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health, 18(16), 8876. https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph18168876

Richards, K., Sheen, E., & Mazzer, M. C. (2014). Self-Care and you: Caring for the caregiver. American Nurses Association.

Sist, L., Savadori, S., Grandi, A., Martoni, M., Baiocchi, E., Lombardo, C., & Colombo, L. (2022). Self-Care for nurses and midwives: Findings from a scoping review. Healthcare, 10(12), 2473. https://doi.org/10.3390/healthcare10122473

Sohal, M., Singh, P., Dhillon, B. S., & Gill, H. S. (2022). Efficacy of journaling in the management of mental illness: A systematic review and meta-analysis. Family Medicine and Community Health, 10(1), e001154. https://doi.org/10.1136/fmch-2021-001154

Wei, J., Yun, Z., Zhang, Y., Liang, Y., Hu, Z., Gao, C., Tang, X., & Liu, H. (2025). Mindful self‐care and compassion fatigue in nurses: The chain mediating roles of resilience and professional identity. Journal of Nursing Management, 2025(1). https://doi.org/10.1155/jonm/8572654

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Scenario

While at the National Holistic Nursing Conference, you attended a session about self-reflective practice and self-care. The presenter made a persuasive case about the value of keeping a personal journal. Now you understand that reflective practices increase self-awareness and personal growth!

You are excited to share your knowledge during the upcoming meeting of the Holistic Nursing Committee. In preparation for the meeting, you need to create a handout to share with the attendees. Ultimately, the handout will be distributed to the entire nursing staff at Rasmussen Hospital.

Instructions

Your handout should work its way from general to specific, cite evidence-based resources, and contain the following:

1. A definition of self-care for nurses.
2. At least 2 potential positive outcomes of practicing self-care in nursing.
3. A description of reflective journaling.
   • Include at least 1 method of reflective journaling.
   • Include at least 1 nursing scenario where reflective journaling can be used.
4. • Include at least 1 personal scenario where reflective journaling can be used.
5. At least 2 potential positive outcomes of reflective journaling.
6. An explanation of 2 potential positive effects on self-care that reflective journaling can have for nurses.
7. At least 2 resources providing additional information about self-care for nurses. Explain why each is a good choice.