The present study was conducted at five hospitals in Sweden. Data were collected by a random procedure from registered nurses (N = 165) in face-to-face interviews. The study reports on how and why nurses provide for patients’ aesthetic needs. Open substantive coding of each interview fractured the data. The category of good for the patient was identified in the following nurses“ statements: “The patient became relaxed” and “It distracted the patient from her pain.” Regarding the question about how nurses provide for the patients’ aesthetic needs, they did it in a nonactive manner. They used the basic service available at the wards. It could be concluded that although nurses show concern for patients’ aesthetic needs, there is still more to be learned in this area of research. Nurses need to be encouraged to actively incorporate aesthetic means of expression in nursing practice.
Get full access to this article
View all access options for this article.
References
1.
Anderson Schorr, J.
(1993). Music and pattern change in chronic pain. Advances in Nursing Sciences, 15(4), 27-36.
2.
Angus, J.E.
, & Faux, S. (1995). The effect of music on adult postoperative patients’ pain during a nursing procedure. In S.G. Funk, E.M. Tornquist, & M.T. Champagne (Eds.), Management of pain, fatigue and nausea (pp. 136-142). New York: Macmillan.
3.
Bullock, M.E.
(1983). The effects of humour on anxiety and divergent thinking in children. Dissertation Abstracts International, 44(4), DA 8319150.
4.
Buxman, K.
(1991). Make room for laughter. American Journal of Nursing, 46, 51-51.
5.
Bygren, L.O.
, Konlaan, B.B., & Johansson, S.E. (1996). Attendance at cul tural events, reading books or periodicals, and making music or singing in choir as determinants for survival: Swedish interview survey of living conditions. British Medical Journal, 313, 1577-1580.
6.
Carlise, D.
(1990). Art and health.A creative approach to patient care. The soothing arts. Nursing Times, 86, 27-30.
7.
Carper, B.
(1978). Fundamental patterns of knowing in nursing. Advances in Nursing Science, 1(1), 13-23.
8.
Eban, R.
(1997). Paintings in hospitals. In C. Kaye & T. Blee (Eds.), The arts in health care, a palette of possibilities (pp. 36-40). New York: Springer.
9.
Hansebo, G.
, Kihlgren, M., & Ljunggren, G. (1999). Review of nursing documentation in nursing home wards—Changes after intervention for individualized care. Journal of Advanced Nursing, 29, 1462-1473.
10.
Koithan, M.
(1996). Aesthetics in nursing practice and education. Issues in Mental Health Nursing, 17, 529-539.
11.
Konlaan, B. B.
, Björby, N., Bygren, L. O., Weissglas, G., Karlsson, L. G., & Widmark, M. (2000). Attendance at cultural events and physical exercise and health: A randomized controlled study. Public Health, 114, 316-319.
12.
Lidsay, S.
(1997). Music in hospitals: The best medicine in the world. In C. Kaye & T. Blee (Eds.), The arts in health care, a palette of possibilities (pp. 28-35). New York: Springer.
13.
Löfmark, A.
, & Thorell-Ekstrand, I. (2000). Evaluation by nurses and students of a new assessment form for clinical nursing education. Scandinavian Journal of Caring Science, 14, 89-96.
14.
McCraty, R.
, Barrios-Choplin, B., Atkinson, M., & Tomasino, D. (1998). The effects of different types of music on mood, tension and mental clarity. Alternative Therapy Health Medicine, 4, 75-84.
15.
Nightingale, F.
(1992). Notes on nursing: What it is, and what it is not. London: Harrison and Sons. (Original work published 1859)
16.
Palmer, J.B.
, & Nash, F. (1997). Taking shape: Environmental art in health care. In C. Kaye & T. Blee (Eds.), The arts in health care, a palette of possibilities (pp. 148-156). New York: Springer.
17.
Ryan, E.A.
(1994). The effect of musical distraction on pain in hospitalized school-aged children. In S.G. Funk, E.M. Tornquist, M.T. Campagne, L.A. Copp, & R.A. Wiese (Eds.), Management of pain, fatigue and nausea (pp. 101-105). New York: Macmillan.
18.
Simon, J.M.
(1988). Humor and the older adult: Implications for nursing. Journal of Advanced Nursing, 13, 441-446.
19.
Smith, G.J.W.
, Carlsson, I. M., & Sandström, S. (1985). Artists and artistic creativity elucidated by psychological experiments. Psychological Research Bulletin, 25, 9-10.
20.
Spencer, M.J.
(1997). Live arts experiences: Their impact on health and wellness. Awork in progress. New York: Hospital Audience Inc.
21.
Strandh, A.
(1998). Arts in hospital in Sweden, the organisation and the goals. In H. Tautz (Ed.), The seed is sown, a project of the world decade for cultural development 1988-1997. Ten years of arts in hospital (pp. 69-84). Vienna: Rema-Print.
22.
Watson, M.J.
(1985). Nursing: Human science and human care, a theory of nursing. Norwalk, CT: Appleton-Century-Crofts.
23.
Watson, M.J.
, & Chinn, P.L. (1994). Introduction: Art and aesthetics as pas sage between centuries. In P.L. Chinn & M.J. Watson (Eds.), Art and aesthetics in nursing (pp. xii-xviii). New York: National League for Nursing.
24.
Wikström, B.M.
(2000). Visual art dialogues with elderly persons: Effects on perceived life situation. Journal of Nursing Management, 8, 31-37.
25.
Wikström, B.M.
, Ekvall, G., & Sandström, S. (1994). Stimulating creativity through works of art.A controlled intervention study on creative ability in elderly women. Journal of Creativity, 7, 171-182.
26.
Woodhams, L.
(1995). The arts in health: Implications for artistic and health practice, policy development, education and training. Australian Journal of Primary Health-Interchange, 1, 39-41.
