Art for nursing students to help boost their resilience

A new project at the University's Truro School of Nursing is exploring whether art workshops can help students
Truro nursing art workshop
“Art can help you to articulate how you’re feeling at difficult times, when you don’t know exactly how to word it… these workshops have been great for both my study and future career” 
A new project at the University of Plymouth is exploring whether art workshops can help to improve student nurse wellbeing and boost resilience. 
The University of Plymouth’s Truro School of Nursing has been holding student workshops to explore the practice of art, through different materials, topics and
media.  
Taking place at its teaching base at the Knowledge Spa, Truro, the four hour-long workshops have welcomed students from all study stages.
They have been invited to create works around the themes of ‘self’, ‘loved ones’ and even ‘hope’.  
Upon completion of the series, each participant is invited to give anonymous feedback to help academics understand if and how art practice could be useful in helping students develop their emotional resilience. 
The project is led by Mrs Hazel Cowls and Mrs Chloe Dyer from the University of Plymouth’s Truro School of Nursing, who explain how they came up with the idea. 
Poem at Truro art workshop
Chloe Dyer and Hazel Cowls at Truro nursing art workshop
Art at Truro art workshop

There’s research out there that shows the value of art and mindfulness for qualified nurses, but very little around the value of art practice for nursing students.

We want to add to that evidence base through this study, and see if and how the projects boost students’ mood and resilience.
The informal feedback we’ve had so far has been really promising, so we’ll look forward to seeing how things progress. Nursing is a full-on career, and anything we can do to equip our students with the self-care skills they’ll need to succeed is a really positive thing.

Chloe DyerMrs Chloe Dyer
Lecturer in Nursing

We know art isn’t just painting, drawing and chalks, so we also build in poetry and music.

We offer a point of reference in the background so students have something to start from. 
As someone who practises art as a hobby I know what it brings to me, and – if the results show the workshops are beneficial – long term we would love to roll this out as a formal part of our curriculum.

Hazel CowlsMrs Hazel Cowls
Lecturer in Adult Nursing (Education)

Art at Truro art workshop
Art at Truro art workshop

Art can help you to articulate how you’re feeling at difficult times, when you don’t know exactly how to word it.

I signed up to take part in the study as I’d seen the benefits of art therapy for patients within my placement, and I wanted to explore it further. I’ve felt relaxed, like I’m prioritising myself and it’s helping me to keep a level head at difficult times. 

In addition to the amazing support I’ve received from staff since arriving last year, these workshops have been great for both my study and future career, and I really hope it’s something others can take advantage of.

Third-year Mental Health Nursing student taking part in the workshops 

I hadn’t done art since I left school over 20 years ago and thought making marks on paper was a bit beyond me!

But I was encouraged by Hazel (Cowls) to take part, and it’s really helped me to focus, feel calm and relax. 
A first-year Adult Nursing student taking part in the workshops 

Find out more about our Truro School of Nursing

Open Days are taking place on Saturday 5 October and Thursday 23 January.
You can find out more about BSc Nursing, Nursing Apprenticeships and Nursing Associate programmes. 
Men in nursing