Needs Assessment
Art therapy is a type of psychotherapy that employs creative approaches for treatment and psycho-correction, including drawing, modeling, music, photography, movies, literature, acting, storytelling, and more. On the one hand, art therapy sessions foster a clearer, more sensitive articulation of one’s experiences, issues, and inner conflicts, while on the other hand, they encourage creative self-expression (Emblad & Mukaetova-Ladinska, 2021). The patient can communicate himself far more vividly and graphically throughout the creative process than he can through writing or voice.
Art-therapeutic works help to bring the content of complexes into consciousness and feel the resulting unpleasant emotions (Emblad & Mukaetova-Ladinska, 2021). This is especially essential for people who are unable to “talk it out,” as it is easier for them to express their dreams through art than to talk about them. Fantasies, whether drawn on paper or fashioned of clay, frequently speed up and make it simpler to communicate about the experience.
Nurses should understand that the process of creativity eliminates or reduces protection in verbal, habitual interaction, so that the patient may analyze their feelings about the world around them more accurately and realistically. In addition, art therapy approaches are founded on the notion that a person’s inner “I” is represented in visual images when they sketch, paint, or sculpt spontaneously, without thinking. Furthermore, nurses would be obliged to use simple art media, and participants in art therapy would not need prior experience with creative activities.
Numerous neurophysiological investigations have conclusively demonstrated that musical memory is exceptionally durable, lasting for a long time in people with severe cognitive impairments (Emblad & Mukaetova-Ladinska, 2021). Identifying the functions of perceptual, cognitive, and emotional components in the process of music memorization enabled us to conclude that the multimodality and multidimensionality of music influence the participation of numerous brain regions (Emblad & Mukaetova-Ladinska, 2021). As a consequence, nurses must acquire knowledge of art therapy to conduct it effectively and maximize its benefits for patients.
Develop Learning Objectives
By the end of the program, nurses ought to be able to select appropriate artwork for art therapy sessions. They should be able to pick a music-therapeutic playlist. They must also be informed of the many advantages art therapy can offer people with dementia when done properly. Nurses should be able to recognize the indicators supplied by nursing home patients in order to determine if the session was helpful.
Nurses must identify with, care for, and assist dementia patients. This will make patients feel safer and enable them to realize their full potential. Nurses ought to additionally learn to be courteous and thank patients for their services. Therefore, this will help patients feel special and cherished by the end of their art therapy session.
Implement the Training
Healthcare professionals will gain knowledge about the use of art by reading relevant material, thus broadening their awareness. In addition, a demonstration session will be held so that nurses can observe how it works and then use it in their practice. The three-day training will involve both night- and day-shift nurses from nursing homes. This instructional session will cover all aspects and intricacies of art therapy, enabling nurses to ensure the intervention is effective.
Furthermore, nurses will be provided with all necessary art therapy tools, including instruments for music, modeling clay, and painting brushes. The healthcare professionals will also be trained in safety considerations to ensure that the art therapy process is as successful and as pleasant as possible for nursing home patients.
Evaluate the Training
A follow-up test to assess the course has been designed and will be administered one week after the presentation. It will allow medical practitioners to accurately measure the treatment’s efficacy. If any discrepancies in the nursing staff’s understanding are identified, an additional training day will be scheduled. It will address areas unfamiliar to the nurses, helping them gain more knowledge. A doctor will also be present at the first art therapy session to monitor and evaluate the process’s progress. If the nurses encounter any difficulties during the procedure, the doctor will help them.
Follow-up and Support
Nurses will receive ongoing support as they begin using non-pharmacological therapies. This will be done by providing patients with current, reputable information on the application of art therapy for dementia. As a consequence, healthcare professionals will be able to expand their understanding and abilities.
They will also gain knowledge of the most contemporary methods and strategies in art therapy, which will help make the sessions more effective and up-to-date. Additionally, nurses will have the advantage of receiving advice from a more experienced practitioner in the field at any time. This will encourage them and enable them to carry out their professional responsibilities more efficiently.
Reference
Emblad, S. Y., & Mukaetova-Ladinska, E. B. (2021). Creative art therapy as a non-pharmacological intervention for dementia: A systematic review. Journal of Alzheimer’s Disease Reports, 5(1), 353-364.
