Use of the Arts
Art, for many individuals, is an expression of the inner self.
Various art forms, such as music, dance, crafts, photography,
painting, drawing, sculpting and culinary arts, bring out deep
emotions. This, in turn, fosters healing and well-being. Even if
individuals are not accomplished artists, their creative acts can
provide a source of meaning for their lives.
Nurses also use their creativity as a way of expressing their
grief or joy, and as an especially meaningful intervention for those
"special" patients that one connects with in a spiritual way. For
example, see the following text written by Celeste Schiller:
My Heart’s Cry (For M. A.)
I have worked and I have cried,
I have loved and I have tried to do my best each
brand new day
moving forward come what may.
There are many things I want to do, some are
routine, some are new.
I miss my home, I want to skate. I want to live,
to celebrate.
** The canyon calls, I want to go to see the
colors, and to know
that as I seek that I will find and He will give
me peace of mind –
to know I’m loved, to understand, to feel I’m
special, for I am.
Day after day, I’ve come to see that with the
bitter comes the sweet.
I’ve learned some lessons, felt much love,
asked questions of my God above.
Will I be healed, or be set free? I wish the
choice was up to me.
I’ve fought so hard, I want to live - There’s
still so much I have to give.
** The canyon calls, I want to go to see the
colors, and to know
that as I seek that I will find and He will give
me peace of mind –
to know I’m loved, to understand, to feel I’m
special, for I am.
Words and music by Celeste Schiller 10/22/04
Resources
Bailey, S. S. (1997). The arts in spiritual care. Seminars in
Oncology Nursing, 13, 242-247.
Halstead, M., & Roscoe, S. (2002). Restoring the
spirit at the end-of-life: Music as an intervention for oncology
nurses. Clinical Journal of Oncology Nursing, 6, 322-6.
Taylor, E. J. Spiritual care: Nursing theory, research, and
practice. Upper Saddle River, NJ: Prentice Hall.
Halstead, M., & Schiller, C. (2005) |
