Receiving constructive and meaningful feedback from trusted peers plays an important role in supporting professional growth and development. The peer feedback component of PPR provides a self-directed opportunity to seek and receive nuanced feedback on practice which can be used to facilitate further reflection and inform practice improvement and professional development planning.
How does it work?
Peer feedback usually involves a private, confidential conversation or discussion between a licensee and a trusted colleague. It allows a practitioner to review their practice and identify their strengths and areas they would like to develop further. It can provide insight into practice and validate perspectives. Peer feedback is not a performance appraisal or a peer evaluation.
Giving and receiving peer feedback is an important part of practice. Sharing ideas with a peer, either verbally or in writing, assists practitioners to identify areas where both can share professional development activities related to their nursing practice.
When is the right time?
Licensees should consider who they'd like to ask to provide peer feedback shortly after they've completed their self-assessment. Peer feedback can be received and given during a planned interaction or in unplanned and spontaneous moments such as staff meetings, ward rounds, or during a coffee break. It can occur at any time throughout the year to help nurses identify behaviours “in the moment" that they'd like to improve on and behaviours they're proud of and would like to model.
Practice reflection
Practice reflection is a required activity for those who work in practice settings where they are unable receive peer feedback. Practice reflection provides licensees a retrospective opportunity to reflect on a specific situation or scenario, considering its impact, learning as a result of the event, and further action that might be taken. Practice reflection may be incorporated as an optional PPR activity for most licensees.