Reflection on Action: Communication is the Key

This article will explore, by reflection, a critical incident by considering the positive and negative aspects. This will encourage me as a trainee surgical care practitioner to look at how and why the incident occurred and it will support me in exploring my emotions. Having experienced this incident, on reflection I can look back at my mixture of emotions – ranging from fear and annoyance to accomplishment – because no matter how able we are as practitioners there will always be new and challenging experiences. When we value our work we value ourselves as practitioners who can make important contributions to the care of patients (Taylor 2000).