ing Patient Care Through an Artist’s Lens

How can sorrow, grief, determination and hope be presented in the brushstroke of a cancer survivor? Can conversations be understood without a single word spoken between two people? What lessons about health care can be taught through art?

At The University of Texas at Austin, a collaboration between the Blanton Museum of Art and School of Nursing invites students to explore patient and personal care through visual art. This includes students in the school's Alternate Entry programs, which are designed for students with previous bachelor's and graduate degrees in other disciplines.

Students are immersed in guided tours and discussions that combine the Blanton's exhibitions and art installations with course readings and lessons from clinical studies.

"Medicine is not just about diagnosing and treating diseases; it's about understanding people," said Spenser Hale, a graduate nursing student in the alternate entry Clinical Nurse Specialist program. "The biggest lesson I'm taking from this experience is a more patient-centered approach with a deeper sense of observation, interpretation and emotional intelligence."

Ray Williams, director of education and academic affairs at the Blanton, and Siobhán McCusker, senior museum educator for university audiences, meticulously curate unique sessions for students.

"We have a longstanding program for first-year students at Dell Med, and now the opportunity to work with students from the School of Nursing has been inspiring," Williams said. "Siobhán and I are delighted that they plan to make the museum workshops an ongoing part of the school's Alternate Entry foundation year curriculum. This spring, we also led a session for undergraduate nursing students exploring women's health."

Each of the guided tours overlaps with coursework and lessons iterated in clinical rotations to reinforce foundational principles of care. Some discussions and activities are inward-focused, reflecting that medical professionals must take time for their own wellness to help others. Some are centered around perception, analyzation, communication and empathy - skills that will be put to the test in clinics, hospitals, trauma situations and home care.

MJ Park, a graduate nursing student, recalled several pieces of art that stood out to her - and several that she considered while providing patient care.

In particular, she recalled a discussion led by Williams in which students analyzed a sculpture of a family.

"We essentially got to practice our patient assessment skills as we noted the strain in the father's muscles, the concern on the mother's face, and many other small details included in the powerful artwork," Park said. "Through art analysis, we were able to have an in-depth discussion about access to health care, the hidden struggles of the patients we will be caring for, therapeutic communication, assessment techniques and much more."