Stepping Into Their Shoes: The Ostomy Experience.

BACKGROUND: Empathetic patient care and reflective practice are linked to improved patient outcomes. Nurse educators play a key role in facilitating the development of empathy in nursing students. Research reveals an interest in reflective learning using a variety of approaches.

METHOD: Taking cues from the previous literature, "The Ostomy Experience" was developed, implemented, and evaluated qualitatively. The Ostomy Experience included paired learning, simulated ostomy stories, skills application in a laboratory setting, personal experience of an ostomate appliance, and structured reflective journaling throughout the process. Responses were evaluated for emerging themes.

RESULTS: Data analysis revealed themes of Encountering Emotions, Becoming Aware, and Impacting Personal Practice.

CONCLUSION: The structured reflective journaling yielded rich student learning data. Responses were evident of self-proclaimed change in attitudes, deeper understanding of the patient experience, and achievement of the learning objectives. [J Nurs Educ. 2018;57(4):233-236.].