Practical ways to build reflections so they have a strategic purpose in learning disability care

As part of revalidation, the Nursing and Midwifery Council (NMC) requires nurses to complete five written reflective accounts, then to review these with another registrant as part of a reflective discussion. Nurses are reminded that these reflections should highlight resulting changes to practice and be linked to the required NMC standards. Additionally, nursing students are frequently required to complete reflective practice assignments as part of nurse education programmes. But are such external demands the only rationale for reflection? Are there intrinsic reasons to reflect, and if so, how might learning disability nurses best marshal their reflections to provide deeper insight into their personal beliefs, values or current practice? In learning disability care, reflections are particularly important as nurses help others to understand the needs of the individuals they support and assist service users over the course of what might be a lifetime of care. This article outlines practical ways to build reflections so that they have a strategic purpose, as well as meeting the requirements of external agencies such as the NMC or universities.