title: Students' and teachers' experiences of participating in the reflection process "THiNK".
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Reflective journal writing in clinical practice is used as a tool in bachelor programs in nursing. The reflection process THiNK was developed to enhance students' reflection processes. It was tailored to the needs of a nursing programme (in Norway) as former studies showed that many students had superficial level of reflection in their reflective journals, few students applied knowledge to their reflections and some met unprepared in the guided reflection groups. The teachers had inconsistent focus on the importance of reflection as a way of learning. This study aimed to describe students' and teachers' experiences of participation in reflection processes.
  
  
  METHODS
  The development of THiNK is inspired by educational design research. This study used focus groups to gain insight into students' and teachers' experiences of the reflection processes. Data were analysed using qualitative content analysis.
  
  
  METHODS
  The empirical sample included 5 focus groups with 28 students and 7 teachers in a bachelor nursing program at a University College in Norway.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The themes were as follows: stop and verbalise the experiences, stimulate and support the reflection processes and develop a conscious attitude. The students became aware of themselves and their own execution. The teachers and reflection groups were crucial in order to learn to see the complexity of a given situation and helped draw connection between the situation and the theoretical knowledge.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Enhancing students' professional development requires attention to facilitation skills as well as other contextual factors. Readiness in the culture can be ensured by tailoring frameworks of reflection that replies to students' and teachers' requests. Participating in reflection processes facilitates integration of modes of thinking when dealing with clinical situations.
authors.affiliation: Faculty of Health Education, Stord/Haugesund University College, Norway. Electronic address: hellen.dahl@hsh.no.
authors.forename: Hellen
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Dahl
authors.affiliation: Faculty of Health Education, Stord/Haugesund University College, Norway.
authors.forename: Kristin Ådnøy
authors.initials: KÅ
authors.lastname: Eriksen
mesh_terms: D001364:Awareness; D005181:Faculty, Nursing; D006801:Humans; D009664:Norway; D013338:Students, Nursing / Q000523:psychology*; D013850:Thinking
keywords: Educational tailoring; Nursing education; Professional development; Reflection process; Students' and teachers' experiences