Rolfe's Reflective Model

Rolfe's Reflective Model: A Guide For Practitioners

Reflecting on ourselves is an important skill for any individual, irrespective of their profession. Whatever actions we do or whatever emotions we feel, a better understanding will always result in improved actions for the future.

In the late 1990s, reflective practice for professional development began to become quite popular (especially in the nursing profession). Professor Gary Rolfe and his colleagues jointly created Rolfe’s reflective model in nursing in 2001. While this model has its roots over two decades ago, its relevance and widespread use continue to this day across various fields.

Reflective practices suggested by Rolfe are the best way to examine self-learning from someone else's experience. You will easily gain useful insights about yourself through critical analysis of actions, various thought processes, and outcomes. You will be surprised to know that this model is very useful for personal development and fostering growth.

Among the many frameworks developed to facilitate this process, this version of the 'What So What Now What model' stands out for its simplicity and effectiveness. In this blog, we will discuss the brief details of Gary Rolfe reflective cycle and understand how it is applied in various fields.

Expanding Horizons: Current Applications Of Rolfe's Reflective Model

While Rolfe’s reflective model in nursing was initially popular in healthcare and education, its application has expanded to numerous other fields. Today, professionals in business management, social work, and personal development also utilize this reflective framework for students and practitioners alike. Its versatility makes it a valuable tool across diverse sectors.

For example, marketing teams now reflect on failed campaigns, customer service managers reflect on client escalations, and remote teams use reflection tools post-project to enhance collaboration and communication. Additionally, in hybrid and cross-cultural teams, structured reflection now helps foster inclusivity, psychological safety, and continual learning in increasingly global workplaces.

What Is Rolfe's Reflective Model?

The reflective model of Rolfe is not only suitable for nursing professionals but can be used by people of every profession. It is an updated and universal version. This model can be used for development and growth in every field, from teaching to marketing.

Rolfe's reflective cycle is a straightforward method and is quite easy to use. Developed by Gary Rolfe in 2001, this model provides a structured framework for individuals to reflect on their experiences and actions.

Main Steps In Rolfe's Reflective Model: What? So What? And Now What?

Just as you have read above in this model, 3 questions have been used to understand your actions and emotions better in your profession. This is the famous 'What So What Now What model. Let us comprehend why we use these questions in further context.

What? - Describes the Situation

This step involves describing the event or situation. It focuses on understanding what happened, including the context and the roles of those involved.

• What happened?
• What was I trying to achieve?
• Were the responses of other people?
• What were the consequences for me?
• What was positive about the experience?

So What? - Analyzes the Significance and Learns from the Experience

This step is about analysing the event and understanding its implications. It encourages deeper thinking about the significance of the event and what can be learnt from it.

• What are the implications?
• Was my thought process as I acted?
• So, what is the importance of this?
• So what have I learnt because of this situation?
• So, what more do I need to know about this situation?

Now What? - Plans Future Actions for Improvement

This step focuses on future actions and how to apply the insights gained from the reflection. It involves planning how to handle similar situations in the future.

• What will you do next?
• Now what could I do?
• Do I need to make things better?
• Do I need to avoid it in the future?
• Now what would be the best thing to do?

Recent Research And Critiques

Since its inception, Rolfe’s reflective model in nursing and other fields has been subject to further academic scrutiny. Recent studies have highlighted its effectiveness in promoting critical thinking, while some critiques point out its potential limitations in addressing complex, multifaceted situations. It's important to consider these perspectives when applying the model.

Recent publications (2020–2025) have further examined its integration with digital tools and adaptation to modern learning environments, reinforcing its continued relevance while suggesting areas for enhancement.

For instance, studies in digital nursing platforms show that nurses using structured reflection frameworks like Rolfe’s reflective model in nursing are 40% more likely to retain learning from simulations and feedback.

Step-by-Step Guide To Using Rolfe's Reflective Model

Anyone who is interested in the reflective model and wants to know how to use it, we have prepared this step-by-step guide for you. To use Rolfe’s reflective model in nursing or any profession correctly, you must follow these 2 steps carefully.

Identifying A Reflective Situation

Beginning B Selecting Experiences Had a Significant Impact on You. For this, you can choose any situation, positive or negative; it depends on you. Choose situations where you thought one thing but the outcome was different than the original one, or where you felt that you were not 100% sure about your decisions. These experiences are ripe for reflection as they offer the most learning potential. For better results, you can also do continuous journaling of such experiences.

Use The "What, So What, Now What" Framework

In the next step, you have to use the "What, So What, Now What" framework of Rolfe's model. First, you will describe your situations in detail using "what." Try to describe your experience in as objective a way as possible. Here there is no need to tell about anyone else's analysis or their judgement.

Analyse the situation using "so what" to describe What you learnt, what emotions you face, what influenced your actions, etc.? Finally, in "Now what," you have to determine how you can make these situations better in the future.

For better reflection, you can practice these things regularly. Continued practice will benefit you a lot and you will be able to handle every situation in a better way.

AI-powered journaling tools can now assist by identifying reflection patterns over time and suggesting additional learning resources based on your reflections, helping with reflective writing using Rolfe’s model.

Digital Tools For Rolfe's Reflective Reflection

With the increasing integration of technology in professional development, several digital tools and apps have been developed to facilitate the use of Rolfe’s reflective model in nursing and other sectors. These include reflective journaling apps and online platforms that guide users through the "What? So what? Now what?" process, making reflection more accessible and convenient.

Some popular tools in 2025 include:

• Journey.AI: AI-powered journaling with intelligent prompts.
• Notion: Customisable templates for the Gary Rolfe reflective cycle.
• Mentimeter & Padlet: For collaborative team reflections in hybrid/remote settings.
• Canvas LMS & Blackboard: Built-in reflection modules now integrate Rolfe’s questions into professional learning pathways.

Pros And Cons Of Rolfe's Reflective Model

Every model or theory has some advantages and also some shortcomings. Rolfe's reflective model also has some limitations. Let us understand some pros and cons of the following model so you can use it properly while considering both sides:

Pros

• Rolfe's reflective model is very easy to understand.
• This model has a strong structure; users can easily cover important experiences.
• Users can think about future actions and improvements.
• This model can be adjusted to different situations and is versatile for various professions.

Cons

• The simplicity of this model can lead to biased opinions or actions.
• Rolfe's model lacks strong theoretical support as compared to other models.
• Three questions often restrict a person from exploring more.
• For complicated situations, this model is very basic.
• The model may not fully support trauma-informed reflection without additional safeguards.
• May lack cultural nuance in global team contexts unless adapted.

Additional Consideration: In today’s complex digital interactions and multifaceted work environments, you may need to integrate additional reflective frameworks or layers to fully address emerging challenges.

Applying Rolfe's Model In Remote Work Environments

The shift towards remote work has created new challenges and opportunities for reflective practice. Rolfe's model can be adapted for virtual environments by focusing on digital interactions, online collaborations, and the unique aspects of remote work. This application helps professionals maintain self-awareness and continual improvement in distributed teams.

How Is It Different From Other Reflective Models?

Before ending the blog, let us compare Rolfe's model with the previous three: Driscoll's Reflective model, Era Cycle and Gibbs' Reflective Cycle.

Each model has its strengths and can be chosen based on the specific needs and context of the reflection. Would you like to explore any of these models in more detail?

Cultural Considerations In RolfeSome popular tools in 2025 include's Reflective Practice

It's important to recognise that reflective practice can be influenced by cultural factors. When applying Rolfe's model across different cultural contexts, consider how various cultures approach self-reflection, criticism, and personal development. Adaptations may be necessary to ensure the model's effectiveness in diverse settings.

Rolfe's Reflective Model 2025: Latest Trends for Learning, Growth, and Reflection

• AI-Powered Reflection Tools for Professional Growth
  Boost your learning efficiency with AI journaling platforms like Journey.AI. Track patterns in your reflections and unlock actionable insights for faster career growth.
• Digital Learning Platforms Integrating Rolfe’s Model
  Use Notion, Canvas LMS, and Blackboard to streamline your reflective practice. Enhance your professional skills and stay ahead in 2025.
• Reflection Strategies for Remote and Hybrid Work
  Transform team collaboration and communication in virtual environments. Structured reflection ensures psychological safety and better performance across remote teams.
• Adapting Reflective Practice to Global Cultures
  Tailor your reflection to international contexts. Ensure your self-development strategy works effectively in diverse cultural settings.
• Gamification in Reflective Practice
  Make reflection engaging and motivating. Use interactive apps and challenges to consistently improve skills and knowledge.
• Linking Reflection to Career Growth and Personal Development
  Integrate Rolfe’s model into your personal development plans. Track progress, learn from experiences, and achieve tangible professional growth.

What Have We Learnt So Far?

So that was a detailed exploration of Rolfe's model of reflection, where we understood how the model has formed a circle around "What?", "So what?" and "Now what?" such questions. You can use this model to deeply analyse your past experiences and improve them in the future. Professor Gary Rolfe's reflective cycle will help you develop your personal and professional growth skills across various fields, from healthcare to business management and beyond.

Especially for nursing and healthcare practitioners, continuing to practice this model will provide valuable insights. If you have any doubts, feel free to contact our nursing experts. Our Assignment Help has highly qualified nursing experts who will give you guidance on each topic, including this model and its modern applications. We also offer Nursing Assignment Help in the UK at an affordable price.

Reference: Learn more about Rolfe et al.’s (2001) Reflective Model to enhance your reflective practice.