The art and learning patterns of knowing in nursing

Area of Science:

• Nursing Education
• Pedagogical Strategies
• Art Therapy

Background:

• Understanding the diverse patterns of knowing in nursing is crucial for effective practice.
• Traditional pedagogical methods may not fully engage all dimensions of nursing knowledge.
• Exploring innovative strategies like art integration can enhance learning outcomes.

Purpose of the Study:

• To explore nursing students' perceptions of using art as a pedagogical strategy.
• To identify how art analysis contributes to understanding different patterns of knowing in nursing.
• To evaluate the effectiveness of art in learning empirical, aesthetic, personal, and ethical knowledge.

Main Methods:

• A descriptive mixed-methods study was conducted.
• Data were collected using questionnaires administered to 31 nursing students.
• Qualitative analysis of student discourse was performed to identify key themes.

Main Results:

• Students recognized empirical knowledge encompassing scientific knowledge, tradition, and the nature of care.
• Aesthetic knowledge was linked to expressiveness, subjectivity, and sensitivity.
• Personal knowledge subcategories included self-knowledge, experience, reflective attitude, and interpersonal relationships, while ethical knowledge was supported by morals and ethics.

Conclusions:

• Art serves as a viable pedagogical strategy for learning nursing knowledge patterns, especially aesthetic, ethical, and personal dimensions.
• Further research into pedagogical strategies that foster nursing knowledge acquisition through art is warranted.
• Artistic engagement can deepen students' understanding and application of complex nursing concepts.