AN ACTION RESEARCH STUDY INTO THE DEVELOPMENT OF NURSES AS REFLECTIVEPRACTITIONERS

This study adopted an action research approach in addressing the quest ion: How could nurses be prepared to be reflective practitioners? The study took place among a group of registered nurses who enrolled in th e first year of their degree studies at the Hong Kong Polytechnic Univ ersity. The methods of data collection included observation, interview , students' written material, and teacher reflection. The experience o f this study suggested that teachers and students should be partners i n the promotion of reflective learning among students. As teachers ref lected on their teaching arrangement and the progress of student learn ing, students could accordingly be offered appropriate guidance. Throu ghout the span of their studies, students learned to gradually develop different perspectives in viewing professional nursing practice. The reconceptualization of nursing practice helped students challenge take n-for-granted views and eventually reconstruct their conception of nur sing.