Undergraduate students paint a picture of nursing in art exhibition

Student nurses have traded their scrubs for smocks as a way to understand the experiences of their patients while finding a creative outlet for stress.

The student art exhibition from the University of Exeter’s Academy of Nursing, is back for its third year. Opening on Friday 14 February, the exhibition will showcase original works by undergraduate nursing students, housing everything from paintings to poetry and sculpture to song.

This unique exhibition is the result of ‘The Art and History of Nursing’ module, designed to deepen students’ understanding of nursing history and the lived experiences of health, illness, and caregiving. Through historical research, literature, and various artistic mediums, students explore the arts as a means to process and express complex emotions and experiences.

Senior Lecturer and module lead Dr Marie Clancy said: “This module really helps the students gain insights into patient care as well as benefiting their ability to cope with the stress of being a nurse. I’m constantly blown away by the creativity and insights of our students and can really see a difference after the module in how they empathise with patients and respond in stressful situations.”

The module fosters interdisciplinary collaboration, involving practice partners, charity organizations, primary care professionals, patient volunteers and university departments such as chaplaincy, classics and ancient history, medical humanities, and medical history.

The exhibition not only highlights the diverse talents of nursing students but also stimulates reflection and important conversations regarding the privileges and challenges of contemporary nursing. It offers an opportunity for students and the public to learn from each other and gain a deeper understanding of the complexities of healthcare.

Among the creations are pieces of work by members of Patient and Public Involvement and Engagement  (PPIE) for the Department of Health and Care Professions. PPIE describes members of the public who use their views and personal experience to help to plan, deliver, evaluate and share health research.

Included in this exhibition is a song by PPIE, Indiana Bird. The song which includes the line: ‘Burying every imperfection, too scared to look at my own reflection’ details her experiences of living with a genetic condition.

A collage by fellow PPIE, Fergus McDonald depicts his life with Down syndrome including images of a vast array of activities, hobbies and his love of heavy metal. His piece aims to challenge perceptions and show how rich and fulfilling a life with this condition can be.

By engaging with challenging themes including racism, abortion, and cancer, students are encouraged to consider aspects of health they may not have previously explored, including discrimination, stigma, shame, and professionalism.

Fourth-year student Amber Pritchard, who used textiles to express her time caring for an oncology patient said: “The Art and History of Nursing module has shown me how I can integrate art into my work. I never imagined I could bring creativity into nursing but its given me such a great understanding of patients perspective and care and it’s something I will continue to do.”

Fellow student, Stephen Bazeley said:We place so much value on the empirical, and often ignore other types of knowledge. Art can help communicate ideas, emotion and views, that are often difficult to express otherwise, this is an insight and tool I have gained in the in ‘The Art and History of Nursing module’.”

The ‘Art and History of Nursing’ exhibition will be open to the public from 09:00-12:30 on Friday 14 February, in Baring Court Room 03, University of Exeter, St Lukes Campus. All are welcome to experience this compelling showcase of creativity and compassion in nursing.