Title : From observation to understanding: Advancing empathy in psychiatric nursing with visual thinking strategies
Abstract:
Purpose: The aim of this quality improvement project was to apply an evidence-based Visual Thinking Strategies (VTS) intervention to the clinical problem and increase empathy levels from pre-survey measurement among psychiatric nurses.
Introduction/Significance: Research indicates that empathy is declining in today’s behavioral health nursing workforce. Nurses with empathetic regard facilitate positive and equitable experiences that decrease stigmatization, which aids in eliciting therapeutic change to assist patients in achieving recovery goals. The VTS approach investigates artwork through brief observation, interpretation using research-tested questions, and then discussion of observations. This innovative approach has shown to be effective in cultivating empathetic sensitivity, curiosity, and compassionate patient care in medical professionals.
Methods: Participants were registered nurses assigned within mental health departments and completed interventional sessions where they critically appraised artwork pertaining to mental health symptomology and treatment through a semi-structured interview process based upon VTS methodology. Quantitative data analyzed using descriptive statistics demonstrated improvement in the context of professional healthcare delivery. Preliminary qualitative data is being analyzed using a thematic approach and demonstrates participant recognition of biases, the generation of new thinking patterns, self-reflection, the enhancement of observational skills, and connection-promoting behaviors towards peers and healthcare consumers.
Discussion: Empathy is a valuable interpersonal skill and is a prerequisite for compassionate healthcare delivery. This project provided a safe environment to share personal perspectives of art that can contain complex themes, similar to a patient’s presentation with a mental health illness. Participants were given an opportunity to benefit from their peers’ perspectives and experiences without judgment, which can provide insight into their role in building therapeutic alliances and healthy unit cultures.
Conclusions: Aligned with previous literature, the VTS methodology has shown to be a versatile tool that can cultivate empathy in healthcare professionals. This art-based quality improvement project fostered the cultivation of empathy through interpersonal communication, self-reflection, and perspective-shifting. Hospital systems can incorporate empathy building exercises into training to provide holistic skills development opportunities.
