Nurses receive feedback on their practice from many sources: from other nurses, colleagues, families, and clients. All feedback is valuable, whether it is received verbally or in writing.
Peer feedback
Peer feedback provides nurses an opportunity to obtain feedback on their professional practice in a collegial and supportive way. This aligns with the BCCNM standards of practice as nurses (BCCNM registrants) demonstrate responsibility and accountability for their continuing competence. Awareness of the influence of ongoing learning on their nursing practice is empowering and validating for nurses and their peers.
Peer feedback can help a nurse objectively identify areas in their practice where they can improve. A peer can also help a nurse identify strengths in their practice that they may not be able to identify themselves. A trusted peer or colleague is a valuable source of insight into a nurse's own practice.
How does it work?
Peer feedback usually involves a private, confidential conversation or discussion between a nurse and a trusted colleague. It allows a nurse to review their practice and identify their strengths and areas they would like to develop further. It can provide nurses with insight into their practice and validate their perspective. Peer feedback is not a performance appraisal or a peer evaluation.
Giving and receiving peer feedback is an important part of nursing practice. Sharing ideas with a peer, either verbally or in writing, assists nurses to identify areas where both can share professional development activities related to their nursing practice.
When is the right time?
Nurses should consider who they'd like to ask to provide peer feedback shortly after they've completed their self-assessment during registration renewal. 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.
Multisource feedback
It's also valuable to approach the feedback process in a more structured way. Nurses will be informed before renewal when its their year to participate in the multisource feedback process.
Who should nurses ask for feedback?
Nurses should be thoughtful in choosing a peer to help them assess their practice. It's an opportunity to choose someone whose opinion they respect and judgment they trust. It's also an opportunity to talk with someone who works in a different role.
In addition to their nursing peers, nurses are also encouraged to approach colleagues from a different nursing designation (i.e., LPN, RPN, RN, or NP), and non-nurse colleagues, like an occupational therapist or physiotherapist—as long as this person is able to speak knowledgeably and helpfully on the nurse's professional practice. They can also invite an unregulated professional colleague (i.e., HCA, unit clerk, etc.) to provide feedback.