Revalidation query if anyone can help

[NameChange1412]

I’m making a start on my next revalidation already as I hate leaving it all to the last minute!

Just thinking about writing a reflection on being on the ‘family’ side of my Dad’s emergency admission, ITU care and losing him. Partly for a bit of catharsis because I haven’t tried to organise my thoughts on it very much (just been blocking it out) and because it has totally reframed how I interact with patients’ families. Just not sure it fits the criteria of ‘an event in practice’ as it was a personal event, although it has shaped my practice far more than any training course ever could. I know most reflective accounts don’t go any further than the reflective discussion so unlikely to ever actually be read by the NMC.

Probably reading far too much into it but just wanted some thoughts on whether it’s an appropriate topic. Thanks all.

I'm a dr not a nurse but after Dr Bawa-Garba discovered that appraisal evidence can be used against you I would stick to bland, impersonal and brief in any reflection

I'm a nurse, I don't think you can use a non practice related event. But you could write it anyway. It might help you.

@Whatatodo79 I was pleased to see her on my ward recently. She's an excellent doctor.

You could write a reflection on how you've changed your practice as a result of personal experience, as a relative. And the difference this has made to your practice.

Just about to start work on my third revalidation. I think you can use this as a reflection of you use it towards how it impacts your practice now.
As PP has said be careful about what you put in writing that will be available for others to read. As much as it pains me as I feel actually true reflection needs to be vulnerable but looking at many cases in the media you need to protect yourself at all costs in todays society.

This

I would write the reflection to help you process your feelings about your dads care and grief but certainly not include it any Revalidation reflection. I wrote boring reflections. I did not want to share my personal business with the person reading it and certainly not NMC if chosen to review. Like another poster... bawa garba don't need to say anymore

Definitely an appropriate topic, If you are framing it as how you have changed your practice in response. Obviously you will be careful about any identifying details, but I think on to include your feelings as a reflection should, providing you have no issues with others reading it. Good luck!

Thanks everyone for your replies.

I’ve written some of it, and have definitely gone down the ‘what information do we actually share with families’ and ‘how have I changed how I personally interact with the families of dying patients’ route, rather than the ‘this thing happened to me and this is how I felt’ route. I thought I’d explained how I was going to write it in my OP but I don’t think I made myself very clear 😬