Aim: The paper describes the application of a reflective model devised by the author, in the management of paediatric pain within a district hospital.
Background: The issue of bridging the theory-practice gap in nursing has encapsulated the workings of both nurse practitioners and theorists for many years, not least in the management of paediatric pain.
Methods: The reflective model, divided into seven stages, demonstrates the way in which reflective practice and management of change can be integrated.
Findings: Applying this model highlighted nurses' concern themselves with a theory-practice gap, but was also evident of a theory (practice knowledge)-theory (official scientific knowledge) gap that needs to be acknowledged.
Conclusion: It is predicted that the integration of reflective practice with management of change will be useful to nurse practitioners and theorists alike who have sought to address the issue of a theory-practice gap in nursing by embracing the concept of reflective practice.