1. Written reflective accounts
Notes for facilitators
Add name, title and date information if required.
Module lasts 30 minutes.

2. The requirement Notes for facilitators
Highlight that the written reflective accounts can cover CPD, practice-related feedback and/or experiences in a nurse, midwife or nursing associate’s own practice.
Explain that these reflections must always relate back to the Code.
Explain that nurses, midwives and nursing associates must use the mandatory NMC form to record their reflective accounts.

3. The purpose of this requirement
To encourage nurses, midwives and nursing associates to reflect on their professional development and identify any changes or improvements they can make to their practice based on what they have learnt.
To raise awareness of the Code and encourage nurses, midwives and nursing associates to consider the role of the Code in their practice and professional development.

4. Four themes brought together in one Code

5. How to meet the requirement
Notes for facilitators
Each reflective account can be about an instance of CPD/feedback/event or experience in practice, or a combination of both. For example, a reflective account could be created based on a particular topic which may have arisen through personal or team feedback.
Each of the 5 reflections must relate directly to one or more themes of the Code as it may be the case that the subject content may reflect more than one theme.
There must be 5 separate written reflective accounts in total over three years.
The NMC has provided a form that you must use to record your reflections.
You are not required to routinely submit a copy of the reflective accounts to the NMC. However, you must retain these in your portfolio as a record and your confirmer will want to see this.

6. How to reflect on your practice
Notes for facilitators
As part of practice, reflection as a process allows the nurse, midwife or nursing associate to establish connections between new and existing knowledge and experience.

7. Reflection Notes for facilitators
Remember formal reflective accounts do not need to be lengthy or complex. Academic models of reflection are not required here. The reflection does not have to be lengthy or cite research – it can be effective being straightforward and to the point as long as reflection and learning outcomes are clear.
Alternatively, if more academic accounts have already been written as part of a wider educational programme that relate to practice and meet the requirements, then they can be included but using the mandatory form.

8. Reflection as an enabler
Action for facilitator
Before showing next slide ask participants to suggest barriers to reflection – show of hands.

9. Barriers to Reflection

10. Outcomes Notes for facilitators
Discuss the benefits of reflection and why nurses, midwives and nursing associates must reflect on their practice in order to improve the care they provide.

11. How to record your reflective accounts
Notes for facilitators
The form for recording reflective accounts can be found in the How to Revalidate Guidance
You should make sure that you do not identify any individual whether alive or deceased in your records. There is further guidance on this in the NMC’s guidance documents.

13. Activity: Recording reflections in the portfolio
Activity: 15 minutes
5 minutes. Break in to 4 groups. Each group to be assigned an element of the Code. Group discuss the relevance of that part of the Code to practice.
5 mins. As an individual write a reflective account on NMC form.
5 minutes feedback.

14. What a confirmer needs to see

15. You should now