Johns Model of Reflection: Key Phases, Examples, & Template

We have all been in a situation where we reacted in the wrong way and then later reflected on “why did I even do that?” And most of the time, the answer to this question is not quite clear, no matter how much we dwell on or think about it again and again. And situations like this are where Johns model of reflection can actually help you. Especially in your academic and professional skills. It is a simple framework which can help you look back at your experience, understand your thoughts and actions, and then figure out what you can do better the next time. Learn more about how you can use John's reflective model with some examples in this blog below!

What is Johns Model of Reflection?

The Johns model of reflection is a framework which is used by individuals to analyse their past experiences and learn from them. This framework guides individuals, particularly in nursing, to identify what happened and what their role in the experience was. This was designed by Christopher Johns in 1994 and is based on five cue questions which include description, reflection, influencing factors, alternative strategies, and learning.

In John's model of reflection, the reflection happens in two ways: inward and outward. Inward reflection focuses on thinking about your own actions and understanding yourself better in a situation. Outward reflection looks at how other people are involved in the situation.

Origin and Theory Behind John's 1995 Model of Reflection

Christopher Johns developed his Clinical Reflection Model in 1994 for the nursing field at the Burford Nursing Development Unit. It was initially influenced by earlier reflective models like Gibbs and Rolfe. Later it became extremely popular reflective practice in nursing and started being used in other fields too.

John's 1995 model of reflection is based on five sets of questions. Each of them has its own prompts that help people reflect more deeply and effectively. Since it is inspired by Gibbs' model, it also encourages people to think critically about their personal experiences. But when we compare Johns model vs Gibbs reflective cycle, Johns model is more flexible and open-ended. Whereas Gibbs is more structured.

Five Phases of Johns Model of Reflection

The Johns model of Reflection is divided into key phases. But you have to understand what each stage actually means in practice. Let us break down all five of Johns reflective model step by step and clearly so you can understand and apply them easily.

Phase 1: Describe the Experience

This is the starting point where you briefly explain what happened. You also do not need to include every small detail. Just focus on the main points like the situation, people involved, and what took place. Your main goal here is to set the context and follow professional reflective practice so you can reflect on it later properly.

Phase 2: Reflection (thoughts & feelings)

In this next phase of John's model of structured reflection, you have to think about your personal thoughts and emotions during the experience. You have to do evidence-based reflection and ask yourself questions like: what was I feeling? What was I trying to achieve? Doing this will help you understand how your emotions influenced your actions.

Phase 3: Influencing Factors

In the third phase, you have to look at factors that actually affected your actions. This includes both:

• Internal factors like your beliefs, values, emotions
• External factors like environment, people, and resources

This phase of reflection in healthcare education will help you understand why things happened the way they did.

Phase 4: Alternative Strategies

Now, you have to think about what some of the different ways you could have handled this situation. You can explore things like what worked well. What didn't? And what could you do to improve? This is another area where nursing assignment help can support you in developing stronger critical thinking and reflection skills.

Phase 5: Learning

In this last phase of John's model of reflection, you have to focus on what you have learned. And more importantly, you have to think about how you will use this learning in the future. This stage turns your reflection into real improvement by helping you make better decisions next time.

How to Use Johns Reflective Model?

So how to use Johns' model of reflection? Well, it's simple and it works through a series of guided questions. Below is how you can apply this model in a clear and practical way:

Step 1: Describe the Situation

Goal: Provide a factual account of the event without interpretation.

You can first start the ethical reflection in practice by explaining what happened. You can keep it short and clear and focus only on important details like where you were, who was involved, and what you did. For this, you can also use the below questions to support the reflection:

• Phenomenon:Describe what you are experiencing right now, what is happening and how it feels.
• Causal:Think about what caused this experience. What key factors led to it?
• Context:Consider the background of the situation. What important details or circumstances are connected to it?
• Reflection:Explain how you are thinking about this experience. What have you learned or realised from it?

For example: “I gave you a presentation in class. But I felt unprepared and struggled to explain my points clearly.”

Step 2: Reflect on feelings

Goal: Look inward to analyse your intentions and the immediate consequences.

This next phase of John's reflective model is all about the reflection itself. For this next step, you can think about how you felt during the situation. Also make sure to be honest about your example, as they play a big role in your actions. You can look for the following questions:

• What was I trying to achieve?
• Why did I handle the situation this way?
• What impact did my actions have on me?
• What impact did my actions have on the patient or my family?
• What impact did my actions have on my colleagues?
• How did I feel during the experience?
• How did others feel during the experience?
• How can I tell how others felt?

For example: “I felt nervous and anxious because I was not confident about the topic.”

Step 3: Analyse influencing factors

Goal: Identify what drove your decisions.

This third phase will revolve around the core factors which influenced the situation in the way that it happened. You can now ask yourself what affected your actions. This could be a lack of preparation, pressure, environment, or even other people. You can ask the following questions:

• What personal thoughts or feelings influenced my decisions?
• What outside factors (like people, environment, or pressure) affected my choices?
• What information or knowledge did I have at the time?
• What other sources or help could I have used?
• What information could have changed the decision I made?

For example: “I didn't practice enough, and seeing others perform well made me more nervous.”

Step 4: Explore alternatives

Goal: Consider if there was a better way to handle the situation.

In this fourth phase of John's model of structured reflection you have to identify improvement areas in the situation as it happened. You can consider what could have been done differently. This will help you think of better ways to handle similar situations in the future. You can ask questions like:

• What other choices did I have?
• What might have happened if I chose those options?
• Did I think about all the possible options?
• Did I choose the best option?

For example: “I could have practised more, prepared notes, or asked for help beforehand.”

Step 5: Create an action plan

Goal: Summarise how the experience changed your perspective and future practice.

The last phase of “How to use Johns' Model of Reflection” is all about learning from the areas that you previously identified for improvement. You have to decide what you will do next time. This step will turn your reflection into real improvement. Ask questions like:

• What will I do differently next time?
• How do I feel about this experience now?
• Have I been in a similar situation before?
• What would have been a better way to handle it?
• What could have happened if I had made different choices? For me, others, or the patient?
• How open and supportive am I when helping patients and colleagues?
• How has this experience helped me learn and grow in these areas:
  • Empirical:facts and knowledge
  • Ethical:right and wrong
  • Personal:understanding myself
  • Aesthetic:how I carry out my work and skills

Note that applying Johns' model in practice using the steps above can look simple but are not in reality. So for this, you can ask experts to “Do my assignment for me” to make sure that you effectively and accurately complete it.

Johns Model of Reflection Example

Below are John's model of reflection examples across three different scenarios. Take a look below:

John's Reflective Model in Nursing Example

Johns Reflective Model Example in Student Scenario

Remember to use a Free Plagiarism Checker UK when you work on your own reflection based on these examples.

Advantages and Disadvantages of John's Model of Reflection

Here is a table that shows the main disadvantages and advantages of Johns' model of reflection. Check out:

Johns Model Vs Gibbs Reflective Cycle Vs Schön reflection

Students can find many reflective models to help them write about their experiences. Some common ones include Gibbs' Reflective Cycle, Kolb's Experiential Learning Cycle and Schön's Reflection. Students can compare Johns model vs Schön reflection to decide which one suits them best. They can also seek Assignment help uk if they need guidance.

Below is a simple comparison of Johns model vs Gibbs reflective cycle, and Schön's Reflection to help you choose the most suitable approach:

Conclusion

Summing up, we have explained Johns model of reflection in a simple way so that you can understand its importance and how you can use it. This model will help you think about your past experiences and learn from them. However, only if you use it properly.

In addition to this, if you are someone who is struggling with your assignment. You can use John's model of reflection example above to reflect on your own experiences and develop a better understanding. But, if you are facing tight deadlines, then you can consider getting help from academic support services like Assignmentdesk who provide exceptional help while maintaining high standards for quality.

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