Art Therapy with an Oncology Care Team

Abstract

Oncology nurses are particularly vulnerable to "burnout" syndrome due to the intensity of their work and the ongoing losses they experience while providing oncology care to their patients. High levels of stress in the workplace left untended lead to high job turnover, poor productivity, and diminished quality of care for patients. Attention to staff issues of grief and emotional release, along with a supportive work environment, minimizes burnout. Art therapy is an effective tool for helping staff process their grief and other emotions, as well as build team morale. This article describes how art therapy has been used in diverse ways to address these staff issues at a large Midwest academic hospital. One project, the creation of a "Healing Quilt," is described in detail. Through this intervention the entire staff had an opportunity to use art therapy for self-care and team-building.

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