By Guest Blogger, Alyssa Blake, BSN, RN
(with Susan J. Farese, MSN, RN)

Celebrating Nurse’s Week (May 6-12, 2024)!

“Celebrating Nurse’s Week“

Many thanks to Alyssa Blake, BSN, RN for writing this guest blog!

In a world of advancing technology and pharmaceutical breakthroughs, we often focus on the latest and greatest drugs to treat patients.

Yet, something as simple as incorporating creativity into patient care may speed recovery and improve quality of life. Not only that, it may help address caregiver burnout.

In this blog post, we review the healing benefits of art for caregivers and patients and how to integrate it into patient care.

How does art help with healing?

Since the 1960s, different forms of art such as music, visual media, writing, and even dancing have been used to help patients. In fact, the concept of using art for healing forms the basis of art therapy—a treatment in which mental health professionals use visual art to help patients process distressing events.

Besides helping with mental health issues, common illnesses art can treat include:

• Dementia/Alzheimer’s
• Stroke
• Parkinson’s Disease
• Chronic Pain
• Multiple Sclerosis
• Traumatic Brain Injury
• Cancers
• Obesity

This list is by no means exhaustive as art is versatile and can be used with all kinds of patients.

Although we haven’t yet determined the specific impacts on diseases, research suggests that art may:

• Decrease pain medication and sleep aid use
• Reduce surgical complications
• Reduce anxiety, depression, and stress
• Improve vitals and immune system function
• Promote earlier patient discharges
• Reduce physician visits
• Improve mood

Through the act of creating art, people may better understand their illnesses. Further, it may help manage difficult emotions which could explain these health benefits.

Even patients who aren’t creating art seem to experience benefits from exposure. For instance, one study found that people felt greater calmness and tranquility after viewing nature-inspired displays. Moreover, patients reading poetry reported an increased sense of well-being and connection to spirituality.

We need to do more research to better understand this phenomenon. But, given what we do know, it’s safe to say the arts influence our physical and mental health and can be a great way to advance wellness.

How to Combine Art and Medicine in Patient Care

Integrating art into patient care sounds great, but how do we do it? One need look no further than Florence Nightingale’s Environmental Theory.

Known as the matriarch of modern nursing, Florence revolutionized more than sanitation practices with her ideas. In her famous “Notes on Nursing: What it is, What it is Not,” she explains the influence of the environment on our health. Specifically, she highlights the impact of air, water, light, cleanliness, and drainage on our well-being.

After reading these inspiring words, many focus on improving air and water quality to promote health. However, we may also interpret these readings in the context of creative art and wellness. Indeed, in her writings, Florence mentions the impact of “beautiful objects,” and “brilliance of color” on patients’ recovery (Nightingale, 1860). She then discusses the need to include artwork in patient rooms and the importance of hobbies to foster well-being.

Keeping this guidance in mind, strategies healthcare centers may employ to combine art and medicine include:

• Placing visual art and plants in rooms and common areas
• Facilitating drawing, craft-making, writing, or music sessions.
• Giving art supplies, coloring books, and journals to allow independent art creation
• Encouraging appreciation through art interpretation exercises

As a nurse and caregiver to my chronically ill father, I have witnessed the success of these techniques firsthand.

Working during a pandemic and supporting my father these last few years, I encountered many challenges. There were even several instances in which my father passed away and was brought back to life again

Throughout this hardship, what truly helped my father recover and prevented my family from falling apart was art. During his 6-month hospital stay, I made it a point to paint cherished scenes from snapshots of his beloved garden to portraits of our pets. I then hung these pictures in his hospital room. These artworks served not only as reminders of his favorite memories but also as motivators that encouraged him up until his discharge.

Besides making visual art during this trying time, I wrote poetry to express what I could not with ordinary words. Through this practice, I released pent-up negative emotions to manage stress and clear the way for hope to blossom.

Inspired by this experience, I began my own art business Smile Canvas Creations to help others with art, like I did for my family. I also embarked on a campaign to share knowledge about art’s healing power, which has brought me here today.

Now that I have reviewed the health benefits of art and how to include it in patient care, there remains one last topic to discuss—how to address caregiver burnout with art.

Addressing Caregiver Burnout with Art

Since the pandemic began, there has been a mass exodus of healthcare workers from the field with many citing burnout in their decision to leave.

Factors that may contribute to this state include:

• Understaffing
• Long work hours
• Lack of resources and support
• Second-hand trauma from caring for patients
• Lack of self-care

Besides increasing turnover, this emotional fatigue may increase medical errors and lead to poor health outcomes for patients and caregivers alike.

Health Issues Burnout May Cause include:

• Mental health problems
• Obesity and weight gain
• Chronic illnesses including heart disease, diabetes, and cancer
• Immune system dysfunction

This phenomenon isn’t exclusive to just formal caregiving, though. Family caregivers face the same risk of burnout trying to meet the daily needs of sick loved ones.

Similar to patients, creative outlets can manage stress in these environments and improve all caregivers’ health.

In healthcare settings, administrators could implement training or continuing education classes that focus on creativity, for example. These classes might include drawing, music, or creative writing like haiku workshops. Alternatively, managers could install coloring posters in break rooms and organize “Paint and Sip Nights,” for coworkers to paint and socialize.

Educators may also use these strategies to prepare students entering the field. For instance, one nursing program included a one-hour class inspired by the Japanese art of Kintsugi in their curriculum. This involved students repairing broken pottery with golden lacquer and self-reflection. After the exercise, students reported a greater sense of connection with others and appreciation of their work.

Although family caregivers may not have access to formal support like those mentioned above, they can find similar opportunities by joining support groups that host these activities.

In brief, these creative activities allow caregivers to cathartically release negative emotions and improve their health. Likewise, incorporating art in patient care aids patients’ recovery.

What will you create now that you know about art’s extraordinary impacts on wellness?

Finally – Please stay tuned during the first week in May, 2024 for our Nursing and the Arts Podcast, where we will post an interview Alyssa Blake, BSN, RN in conversation with Susan J. Farese, MSN, RN!

Questions?: Email Susan at info@sjfcommunications.com

References

American Art Therapy Association. (2022). What is art therapy? Fact sheet. Retrieved April 21, 2024, from https://arttherapy.org/what-is-art-therapy/

Caregiver stress: The impact on physical health. (2022, October 7). Retrieved April 21, 2024, from https://www.ncoa.org/article/caregiver-stress-the-impact-on-physical-health

Farese, S. (2021, 1993). Poetic Expressions in Nursing: Sharing the Caring. SJF Communications.

Gonzalo, A. (2023, July 2). Florence Nightingale: Environmental theory. Retrieved April 21, 2024, from https://nurseslabs.com/florence-nightingales-environmental-theory/

Kim, K. S., & Lor, M. (2022). Art making as a health intervention: Concept analysis and implications for nursing interventions. ANS. Advances in nursing science, 45(2), 155–169. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC9064896/

Kwok, I., Keyssar, J. R., Spitzer, L., Kojimoto, G., Hauser, J., Ritchie, C. S., & Rabow, M. (2022). Poetry as a healing modality in medicine: Current state and common structures for implementation and research. Journal of Pain and Symptom Management, 64(2), e91–e100. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/35584740/

Lankston, L., Cusack, P., Fremantle, C., & Isles, C. (2010). Visual art in hospitals: case studies and review of the evidence. Journal of the Royal Society of Medicine, 103(12), 490–499. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC2996524/

Levins, H. (2023, July 27). High rates of clinical burnout and patient safety issues at even the best hospitals. Retrieved April 21, 2024, from https://ldi.upenn.edu/our-work/research-updates/high-rates-of-clinical-burnout-and-patient-safety-issues-at-even-the-best-hospitals/

Martin, B., Kaminski-Ozturk, N., O’Hara, C., & Smiley, R. (2023). Examining the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on burnout and stress among U.S. nurses. Journal of Nursing Regulation, 14(1), 4–12. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC10074070/

Nightingale, F. (1860). Notes on nursing: What it is, and what it is not. D. Appleton and Company.

Ruth-Sahd, L. A., & Deibler, A. (2024). Kintsugi: Fosters student nurse externs’ and new nurse residents’ sense of respect, resilience, and rebuilding post pandemic. Dimensions of Critical Care Nursing: DCCN, 43(1), 36–39. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/38059711/

Spencer-Thomas, S. (Executive Producer). (2022, February 8). Poetry as an antidote to burnout – A nurse’s perspective on healing practices: Interview with Susan Farese [Audio podcast]. Hope Illuminated. https://www.sallyspencerthomas.com/hope-illuminated-podcast/105

Stuckey, H.L., & Nobel, J. (2010). The connection between art, healing, and public health: A review of current literature. American Journal of Public Health, 100, 254-263. https://ajph.aphapublications.org/doi/full/10.2105/AJPH.2008.156497

Wolanskyj-Spinner, A.P. (2018). Visual art intervention reduces pain and anxiety, improves mood among individuals with blood cancers. Healio. https://www.healio.com/news/hematology-oncology/20181218/visual-art-intervention-reduces-pain-and-anxiety-improves-mood-among-individuals-with-blood-cancers

More References and links!

Savvy Nurse Writer: https://savvynursewriter.com/ (Janine Kelbach’s writing business for other nurses) 

Nursing in the Arts -Facebook Group Page:  https://www.facebook.com/groups/nursingandthearts

Alyssa Blake’s Websites and Socials

Alyssa Blake’s Writing Business: Rethink Wellness RN https://www.rethinkwellnessrn.com/  

Alyssa Blake’s Art Business- Smile Canvas Creations – email contact: smilecanvascreations@gmail.com Website: https://rethinkwellnessrn.wixsite.com/smilecanvascreations

Instagram Page https://www.instagram.com/smilecanvascreations

Facebook Page “Smile Canvas Creations” 

Linkedin- www.linkedin.com/in/rethinkwellnessrn-alyssa-blake

Susan J. Farese’s (SJF Communications) Websites and Socials

Susan J. Farese’s SJF Communications Website: https://sjfcommunications.com

Linktree: https://www.linktree.com/Sjfcommo/

Instagram Page https://www.instagram.com/sjfcommo

Facebook Page  https://www.facebook.com/sjfcommunications/

LinkedIn- https://www.linkedin.com/in/susanjfarese/

Pinterest: https://www.pinterest.com/sjfcommo2023/

X (Formerly Twitter): https://twitter.com/sjfcommo