Model for the education of neonatal nurses as reflective practitioners

A model is developed for the education of neonatal nurses as reflective practitioners in a South African context to prepare them for their demanding role in neonatal nursing practice. An exploratory and descriptive design was used, which was in essence qualitative and contextual in nature. Neonatal nursing practice related to education of reflective neonatal nurses was explored and verified to synthesise competences and professional characteristics expected of reflective neonatal nurses and to deduce the content outline of an educational programme. The model was constructed, described and evaluated by experts in model development, higher education, nursing education and/or neonatal nursing practice.