Tihana GA?PERT, Tanja JANEŞ, Snje?ana JURI?I?
Mediterranean Nursing and Midwifery - 2026;6(3):187-192
Objective: To investigate the efficacy of maintaining a self-reflection journal throughout the probationary period of nurses, focusing on assessing its impact and utility in fostering professional development and growth within the nursing profession. Method: This study utilized a descriptive qualitative study to investigate nurses' experiences who maintained a self-reflection journal during their probationary period. The study included nurses who were on a probationary period at University Hospital Rijeka. These nurses were recruited between October 2021 and December 2023. During that specific time frame, a total of 82 nurses were hired for employment. A total of 19 nurses (23.2%), participated in the study. Results: Three major themes were identified. These included emotional responses during journal writing, the perceived usefulness of the journal, and professional awareness and personal growth. Participants identified various lessons learned from engaging in journal entries, such as improving time management, recognizing the importance of self-reflection, and coping with stress. These findings provide valuable insights into the experiences and perceptions of nurses regarding the practice of keeping a self-reflection journal during their probationary period. Conclusions: Participants exhibited a diverse array of emotions in their journal entries, highlighting the intricate nature of their professional experience. While several individuals experienced favorable results from keeping a journal, such as heightened self-awareness and enhanced time management skills, others encountered difficulties in consistently staying engaged.
