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CONTINUING PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT
Page 54
Self-awareness multiple
choice questionnaire
Page 55
Read Jennifer Armitage’s
practice profile on
insulin therapy
Page 56
Guidelines on how to
write a practice profile
Promoting self-awareness in nurses
to improve nursing practice
NS388 Jack K, Smith A (2007) Promoting self-awareness in nurses to improve nursing practice.
Nursing Standard. 21, 32, 47-52. Date of acceptance: March 8 2007.
Summary
This article explores the concept of self-awareness and describes
how it can be beneficial to nurses on a personal and professional
level. Practical tools such as the Johari Window are presented to
assist the reader in this process. The authors discuss portfolio
development, which provides the opportunity to document personal
and professional growth.
Authors
Kirsten Jack is senior lecturer in adult nursing, Manchester
Metropolitan University; Anne Smith is director of nursing studies,
University of Reading, Reading. Email: [email protected]
Keywords
Nursing practice; Professional development; Self-awareness
These keywords are based on the subject headings from the British
Nursing Index. This article has been subject to double-blind review.
For author and research article guidelines visit the Nursing Standard
home page at www.nursing-standard.co.uk. For related articles
visit our online archive and search using the keywords.
Aims and intended learning outcomes
The aim of this article is to increase the reader’s
understanding of the concept of self-awareness
and to explore its use and development in
contemporary nursing practice.
After reading this article you should be able to:
Outline the concept of self-awareness.
Identify the personal benefits of being a
self-aware practitioner.
Discuss the professional benefits of
self-awareness, especially during therapeutic
exchanges with patients.
Use tools to help develop self-awareness.
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Discuss how self-awareness could be
developed as part of ongoing learning, for
example, through portfolio development.
Introduction
‘Caring, the basis of good nursing, depends on you
knowing more about who you are. Why? Because
we cannot help other people until we are a bit
clearer about ourselves’ (Burnard 1992). This
quotation suggests the importance of selfawareness in caring work and the need for nurses to
explore the ‘self’. Self-awareness is not a new term
in nursing literature, it has been acknowledged for
many years (Burnard 1986, Rawlinson 1990).
Becoming self-aware is a conscious process in
which we consider our ‘understanding of ourselves’
(Rawlinson 1990). It is only when we know
ourselves that we can be aware of what we will and
will not accept from others in our lives – it helps us
to relate to other people.
Being self-aware enables us to identify our
strengths and also those areas that can be
developed. If we do not know our good and bad
points then we are less likely to be able to help
others (Burnard 1992). Nurses can use the self to
therapeutic effect when working with patients,
for example, when empathising or advocating.
Rungapadiachy (1999) suggests that
becoming self-aware is compulsory in the caring
professions and that it comprises three
interrelated aspects: cognitive, affective and
behavioural. Put simply, these aspects can be
described as thinking, feeling and acting. For
example, feelings about something could
influence actions taken; feelings of discomfort
when dealing with patients who are dying, could
lead the nurse to avoid contact with this patient
group and their carers.
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At times, emotions may take over and we can
feel as though we are being swept away. Goleman
(1995) suggests the self-aware person is able to
manage his or her feelings and emotions and stay
in charge, rather than be overwhelmed by them.
Menzies (1970) describes the way that nurses
attempt to manage the stress and emotion that
often accompanies caring by detachment and
compartmentalising patient care, so that they
maintain control rather than becoming
emotionally unable to cope. That is not to say
that, as nurses, we should not feel any emotion at
all. However, knowledge of how certain
situations can make us feel affords us the
opportunity to plan ahead and prepare.
Therefore, rather than avoid dying patients, the
nurse should develop appropriate coping skills
when supporting the patient and his or her family.
Time out 1
Reflect on an occasion in practice when your feelings
may have influenced your thoughts and behaviour. Did you
feel in control of the situation? Did your emotions affect your
level of confidence in this situation or how you perceived
others? Emotions can prompt action and inaction, intervention
and withdrawal. Write your thoughts down or discuss this
occasion with a friend.
Discovery of the self is an ongoing, continuous
process which, at times, can be painful as hidden
aspects are slowly uncovered. When confronted
with difficult situations in the working
environment, we are expected to behave
professionally, although feelings of vulnerability
and uncertainty may challenge our perceived
abilities. Being more self-aware can help us to
cope in such circumstances, helping us to respect
our anxieties and concerns and prompting
questions about how these could be overcome.
Self-awareness can help us present ourselves
more appropriately in the therapeutic
relationship (Sundeen et al 1998). It involves
recognising what we know, what skills we employ
and what limitations affect our ability to
intervene. It can also enable us to present
ourselves as knowledgeable, expert in some
areas and as still learning but supportive in
others. It is necessary to question the effect we
have on others in the caring environment
(Hoffman 2001). Certainly, the self can be used
therapeutically to develop the patient’s trust
and to promote a sense of wellbeing (McCabe
2000). By increasing our self-awareness, we
can be more effective in our personal and
professional lives.
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Communication and caring
Communication skills are essential in the caring
relationship and are an important aspect of nurse
education (Nursing and Midwifery Council (NMC)
2005). The need for effective skills is emphasised
by the Department of Health (DH) (2006) in its
proposals for reform. The four main goals set out
focus on: preventing ill health, promoting more
patient choice, reducing inequalities and supporting
patients with long-term needs. The aims will not be
realised without effective communication skills,
which enable us to gather and give information,
explain intentions and actions and use ourselves
in a therapeutic manner. The ability to do this
may be enhanced by a greater level of selfawareness (Rowe 1999).
Generally, communication begins with nonverbal cues and the tone of the voice or inflection
used can be more influential than the words spoken.
If we are unaware of our body language by, for
example, presenting a closed posture, or not making
eye contact, this could have a negative impact or
change the message received by the patient. Ways of
overcoming this can be learned, and conscious
recognition of how our initial presentation will
affect the ongoing communication should be
considered. Conscious integration of theories,
such as that described by Egan (1998), could
influence the communication process in a more
therapeutic way. At first, integration of theory into
communication may seem false – almost like
acting; however, as with all skills, the more these
are practised the more accomplished we become.
Egan (1998) uses the acronym SOLER to
describe the body language that could be
consciously considered (Box 1).
Time out 2
Consider two or three conversations
that you have over the next week with
different people, for example, your partner,
a patient or a colleague. Consider your use of
body language with the different people you
meet. This exercise will help you to think about
the aspects of body language that are more or
less effective in different situations. For
example, do you fiddle with a pen or item of
jewellery when speaking? Do you use your
hands to get your message across? Could this
distract others?
Application of Egan’s model can help us to look
attentive and take in what a patient is saying. This
can encourage patients to disclose issues that they
may normally find difficult to discuss. Patients
seek to trust nurses as professionals and are
sensitive to cues they receive through the tone
of voice and other paralinguistic behaviour.
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BOX 1
Egan’s model
Sit squarely
Open posture
Lean forward
Eye contact
Relaxed and unhurried appearance
(Egan 1998)
However, there may be times when we are
allowing our own thoughts and feelings to
interfere with our understanding of what the
patient is saying (Rungapadiachy 1999).
If we are going to gain a deep understanding of
what a patient is telling us then we need to listen
to what they are saying and observe how they are
saying it and what body language is being used.
Morrison and Burnard (1997) suggest that there
are three levels of listening. These range from the
superficial – when we are not fully listening and
may have other things on our mind – to the
deepest level – when we truly feel that we can fully
acknowledge the patient’s position. They refer to
this as ‘resonance’.
Time out 3
Reflect on two to three conversations
that you have had with patients recently.
Were you aware of how attentively you were
listening to what was being said? Were you
listening on a superficial or deeper level? Do
you think that your listening style may have
put the patient off opening up more fully to
you? Were you engaging with the patient and
reflecting their emotions or concerns, that is,
listening at a deeper level?
It can sometimes be easier to act as if you are
busy rather than engage with a patient in a
conversation. This is a natural way to behave and
is used as a form of defence against the potential
strain of nursing work (Menzies 1970). As nurses
it is not easy to predict what the patient wants to
discuss, and the conversation may stray into
territory with which we feel uncomfortable. It is
not surprising that we may find it difficult to deal
with patients’ feelings and block communication
when they start to share their feelings with us
(Booth et al 1996). If we do not know our own
self, we are more likely to feel vulnerable when
patients express themselves (Jourard 1971).
Therefore, by developing skills of self-awareness,
we may be able to respond in a more appropriate
way, thus helping the patient and saving personal
feelings of embarrassment.
Heron’s (1990) six category intervention
analysis is a useful framework for examining our
NURSING STANDARD
perceptions about how we communicate with
patients (Box 2).
An examination of nurses’ interpersonal skills
was undertaken by Burnard and Morrison
(2005). The authors found that nurses felt less
skilled in facilitative interventions and more
skilled in authoritative ones, although there were
some exceptions.
Time out 4
Drawing on your own experiences, which categories
do you feel more or less skilled in? What influences your
use of the different types of intervention? For example, you
may feel less skilled in the cathartic style of intervention. How
can you develop the skills needed, and what support do you
need when patients release fear or anger?
Development of self
What has been described is the way in which
self-awareness can be beneficial when caring for
and communicating with patients. However, the
development of self-awareness is also important
for our own wellbeing (Freshwater 2002). Being
more self-aware helps us to take control of
situations and become less of a victim. Burnard
(1992) describes this as becoming less ‘acted
upon’. Becoming more aware of our environment
and what may cause us anxiety enables us to plan
ahead and organise our lives to prevent situations
getting out of control.
For example, the thought of giving a
presentation to a group of people may invoke fear
and anxiety that can be so profound that the
presenter is unable to speak and becomes
disabled. Of course, by merely being aware of the
issues, the presenter will not suddenly become
more relaxed about presenting – this requires a
certain amount of forward planning. Plans could
include breathing exercises or thinking of a
trigger which will initiate a more calm and
resourceful state, a technique referred to as
BOX 2
Six category intervention analysis
Authoritative categories
Facilitative categories
Prescriptive interventions
Direct behaviour by offering advice.
Cathartic interventions
Enable the patient to release
emotions, such as anger or grief.
Informative interventions
Offer and impart information.
Confronting interventions
Confront patients about a limiting
attitude or behaviour of which they
may be unaware.
Catalytic interventions
Attempt to draw out self-discovery
and promote problem-solving
in patients.
Supportive interventions
Encourage and affirm patients’
qualities and actions.
(Heron 1990)
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anchoring (McLeod 2003). It may also involve
enlisting the help of others who can help to
evaluate the performance by giving critical,
constructive feedback.
Time out 5
Think about aspects of your life that may cause you
anxiety. It may be, for example, that you have an interview
or an important meeting coming up. Think about the strategies
or education that you need to support you. You may need to
enlist the help of someone else or consider a role model that you
have met. Think about and learn from the way that they would
deal with this situation. By being self-aware we are more able to
become a role model to others.
Understanding ourselves well enough to know
what can make us anxious and less resourceful
helps us to take action to improve our situation.
Therefore, rather than becoming overcome by
situations, we can act to improve the outcome.
Developing self-awareness
Self-awareness should not be viewed as a state that
we can attain completely – it is a constant voyage of
discovery that is never complete (Burnard 1988).
Rungapadiachy (1999) states that the nature of
being self-aware means there is no ‘saturation
point’. He proposes three layers of self-awareness.
First is superficial, for example, awareness of one’s
age and gender. Second is selective, which includes
awareness of things that we feel we may need to be
aware of, such as our outward appearance and
attitudes. Third is deeper awareness – issues
known only to ourselves. This level reflects our
deepest secrets and thoughts.
One way of exploring these ideas is by thinking
about the Johari Window (Luft 1969) (Figure 1).
This is a model that can be used to explore aspects
of ourselves and consists of four quadrants:
Open.
about our hidden selves and the more we learn
about our blind area, the more our unknown area
will shrink. This process helps us to develop a
greater understanding of ourselves and others. It
involves an element of risk, since we have to
disclose something of ourselves and be prepared
to receive feedback from others.
Time out 6
Examine the Johari Window (Figure 1)
and then draw one for yourself. Make
notes in each of the sections.
Open area: What is known to me and also
to others? This could include feelings,
attitudes and behaviours, likes and dislikes.
Blind area: This may be more difficult but try
to imagine how others see you. This could
include your friends, colleagues at work or
a patient. They may think you have certain
mannerisms of which you are not conscious.
Hidden area: What do you know about
yourself but would not disclose to others?
Unknown area: This may be challenging
since this is the part that is unknown to you
and others. Delve beneath the surface and
consider what you are really like. This may
be a different self to the one you present
both to others and yourself. This is the area
that will change as you develop new skills
and new knowledge.
Reflect on what you have written. Did it
surprise you in any way? Could you do this
exercise with someone else to learn more
about what others think of you?
Palmer et al (1994) warn that examination of
ourselves does involve risk as we are never sure
what we may find. They state that this can be
powerful in identifying characteristics of which we
may be unaware but which are painful. They also
examine the fact that most individuals base their
concept of themselves on other people’s
perceptions, which may not be accurate. This
causes further disorientation. However, the
benefits should be a much enhanced sense of self
and a further sense of openness to new experiences.
Blind.
Hidden.
Reflective practice
Unknown.
Becoming self-aware is an ongoing process that is
never complete. Therefore, self-evaluation needs
to be undertaken at regular intervals. This
evaluation process helps us to see how far we have
come, identify what we still need to learn and plan
how we are going to get there (Burnard 1988). One
way to self-evaluate may be through a reflective
diary which will be discussed later.
In nursing, reflection is a commonly used term
but is not necessarily an activity performed
The open area is the area that we know about
ourselves and is also known to others. The blind
area includes the things that others know but we
do not. The hidden area includes things we know
about ourselves but do not reveal to others. The
unknown area is unknown to both us and others.
As we learn more about ourselves the quadrants
will change in size. The more we reveal to others
50 april 18 :: vol 21 no 32 :: 2007
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effectively. Reflection may be associated with a
certain amount of stress; however, it does have the
potential to increase self-awareness (Newell
1992). Reflective practice helps us to examine our
thoughts and feelings – not only our reactions to
these but also the effect they may have on others
(Smith 1995).
To help nurses reflect, certain models can
provide a framework or an aide-mémoire, for
example, Gibbs’ (1988) cycle. In this instance you
are asked to consider your feelings as part of the
cycle. Once the scenario has been described the
next part of the cycle asks you to consider your
feelings about it, considering what it was that
caused you to reflect on this and your personal
perception and response, whether good or bad.
This acknowledges that often reflection is
triggered by some uncomfortable feelings or,
conversely, by feeling that things went well.
Boud et al (1985) recognised the centrality of
our feelings to everything that we do and how we
reflect regularly on our behaviour whatever the
context. They refer to the cathartic elements of
reflection, just as Heron (1990) identified. They
recognise that it is vital for us to be in touch with
our emotions and feelings and to have an outlet
for negative and irrational thoughts. This
promotes a heightened level of self-awareness and
deeper self- knowledge. It is only when we have
explored our own feelings that we can help others
(Burnard 1992).
Heron (1990) also points out that it is vital to
be able to discharge or transform any barriers so
that it is possible to move forward. You may have
identified issues in your own life that affect your
performance and may inhibit your ability. Boud et
al (1985) discuss the way that new knowledge
may become so related to the self that it enters our
identity and changes our world view. They call
this appropriation. So when people say an
experience has changed their lives, they are
demonstrating that they were open to such a
possibility and recognised it was happening as
they were self-aware enough to perceive it.
Reflective accounts are normally included.
Actually compiling the portfolio can in itself
stimulate reflection and challenge practice (Hull
and Redfern 1996). When you are developing
your portfolio it will be a unique record of your
working and personal life.
Keeping reflective accounts in a diary enables
you to chart and record your progress or areas
needing further development. Boud et al (1985)
proposed useful practical tips to aid diary writing.
These have been adapted for a more
contemporary audience:
Be honest. Write it as it is, not as it should or
might have been.
Have a positive approach rather than just
being critical.
Be spontaneous. Do not spend too long on
deciding how to write it.
Express yourself in any way that is meaningful
to you, such as with diagrams or shorthand. It
does not have to be written in a linear fashion.
This is your personal workbook so you can
add, underline, circle or doodle as you wish to
aid your recall.
FIGURE 1
Johari Window
Known to self
Not known to self
Known to others
Open area
Example: This is what I
know about myself and
what others know about
me, for example, I am
female and easy going.
Blind area
Example: My friends may
have a view of me of which
I am unaware. I can uncover these views if others tell
me about them. This will
increase my ‘open’ area. For
example, my friends may
think that I talk too much
and I may be completely
unaware of this fact.
Not known
to others
Hidden area
Example: This is what I
know about myself but
hide from others. I may
hide more or less from
different people. My
family may know more of
this hidden area than my
work colleagues. The
more I disclose from this
area, the bigger my open
area will become and the
more I may learn about
myself in the process. For
example, I may cry at
sad films but do not
want my work colleagues
to know.
Unknown area
Example: The unknown
area is not known to
ourselves or others.
Portfolios
Portfolios have become an accepted way for
nurses to demonstrate their learning. A portfolio
is a useful document for supplying evidence of
achievements and of lifelong learning. It can be
individualised and compiled creatively to
illustrate skills and competencies across a wide
spectrum of experiences. This can capture the
essence of nursing in a variety of ways and
provide a shop window to display a range of
talents. For example, information technology
accomplishments may range from basic computer
skills to more advanced skills in the use of
information and communication technology.
NURSING STANDARD
As we receive feedback
from others and tell others
more about ourselves, we
can develop into this
unknown area and it will
shrink in size.
(Luft 1969)
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our self-awareness. We can then apply this new
knowledge to future situations (Smith 1995).
learning zone professional issues
Use the language that suits you.
Conclusion
Be experimental in how you keep this record.
You may divide the page into sections or come
back and add something later.
The more knowledge we have about ourselves, the
easier it becomes to relate to others. This article
has encouraged you to explore the benefits of
becoming more self-aware. It is hoped that by
reading and working through the activities, either
alone or with a supportive colleague, you will
discover how becoming more self-aware can assist
in your personal and professional life NS
Set time aside for this important activity and
persevere.
Consider keeping it as an e-journal, or
personal blog. You could invite your friends to
participate and offer feedback.
Your diary can become a highly personal
document and one which you may only want to
share with close friends and colleagues. However,
by engaging in this process in a trusting
environment, you can discuss your entries with
others and receive feedback. It may be useful to
enlist the help of a trusted supervisor or mentor in
this process who may also consider sharing their
diary with the group, resulting in a more
reciprocal approach (Burnard 1988). By
challenging and discussing incidents and
dilemmas from practice, we can develop different
ways of thinking about and understanding our
reactions, which leads to further development of
Time out 7
Now that you have completed the
article you might like to write a practice
profile. Guidelines to help you are on page 56.
USEFUL RESOURCE
The Consortium for Research on Emotional Intelligence
in Organizations: The Emotional Competence Framework
www.businessballs.com/emotionalintelligence
competencies.pdf (Last accessed: April 5 2007.)
This document provides useful information on some of
the key components of self-awareness.
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