Creative Reflections: How Students Find Meaning in Unexpected Clinical Experiences

Abstract

Background: Nursing students exposed to clinical experiences may have intense feelings during required clinical preparations. Art can provide a source of relief from demands of caring for varieties of patients [1]. Little research exists on benefits of art to facilitate nursing students to process unexpected events. Faculty at a faithbased, liberal arts University introduce creative reflection to help find meaning in unexpected clinical experiences.Aim: The aim of this paper is to discuss the application of creative reflection across BSN courses.Method: Creative reflection was first offered in the Adult Medical-Surgical Course. Positive feed back led faculty to add creative reflection to the pediatric course after pediatric burn clinical rotation; to the Behavioral Health course for understanding of mental health issues; and in Foundations for coping with grief concepts.Results: Students reported this type of expression meaningful in the unexpected, often difficult,clinical experience. Conclusion:Creative reflections offer students an alternative outlet to process unexpected clinical experiences. Students report many benefits, including finding meaning in suffering, death, and ability to "de-stress". Introducing creative reflections may give students an "outlet" for coping which could lead to prevention of nursing burn-out.

Creative Reflections: Processing Clinical Experiences During COVID-19

“…The creative process was first introduced in the school of nursing in the undergraduate curriculum in 2012. Since then, it has been threaded throughout the curriculum in several courses, including Pediatrics and Behavioral Health [9].…”

“…"Students allowed themselves to be vulnerable with their stories and personal journey toward healing." [9](p. 3). Experiences included students looking inward and exploring their own identity as a nurse and an instrument of healing.…”