Articulating Grief: Arts-Based Therapy as a Pathway to Resilience in Nursing Practice

Grief and bereavement are profound yet underexplored aspects of nursing practice within residential aged care facilities. Registered nurses who work in these settings often form close emotional bonds with residents, making repeated exposure to death deeply impactful. This study aimed to depict the grief, loss, and bereavement experiences of registered nurses in aged care through an arts-based qualitative approach. Nine nurses participated in a one-hour creative session involving drawing or painting to express their experiences of grief and loss. The artworks and accompanying narratives were analysed using a combined deductive and inductive approach guided by Guillemin's adaptation of Rose's critical visual methodology framework. Three key themes emerged: (i) symbolic use of colour, where colours conveyed emotions such as grief, peace, and transformation; (ii) elements of transformation, with imagery evolving from depictions of death and turmoil to representations of acceptance and renewal; and (iii) meaningful motifs, where symbols such as butterflies, birds, and domes represented peace, connection, and spirituality. Collectively, the artworks illustrated how grief, while painful, can evolve into acceptance and peace through creative expression. This study demonstrates the capacity of arts-based methods to reveal the emotional complexity of grief among aged care nurses, highlighting symbolism and colour as powerful tools for emotional understanding. Integrating creative approaches into professional development and emotional support initiatives may enhance wellbeing, reduce burnout, and improve retention. Further research should explore the long-term emotional effects of grief and the therapeutic potential of structured creative interventions in nursing practice.