Story as a reflective process for nurses

This paper uses two practice stories (included as appendices) to illustrate the significance and value of story as a reflective technique for nurses. It employs an explicit framework to draw out the importance of story-telling and suggests that stories can help nurses expose the therapeutic dimension of their work. This aspect is conceived in terms of the concept of 'therapeutic nursing'. We will draw upon the practice stories of one of the authors (Strathie), and it is that author's experience of story-telling to which reference is made. Readers are urged to read the practice stories so that they can appreciate the points made in the text of the paper.