The Living Experience of Patients with Burn Injuries from Art Nursing Care: An Unspoken Mystery

Abstract

Background: Although art and aesthetics are important aspects in nursing care, there is scarcity of literature regarding this area, particularly in relation to patient expectations of art nursing care. This study aims to explore the perceptions of patients with burn injuries regarding art nursing care. Materials and Methods: The present phenomenological study was conducted on 14 patients with burn injuries based on convenience and purposive sampling. Data were collected through deep open-ended and semi-structured interview. Data analysis was performed based on van Manen’s Hermeneutic Phenomenology. Results: Patients’ experience of art nursing care emerged in the form of three main themes, including “being a healer for patients’ wounds”, “skilled and specialized care”, “praiseworthy care”, and six subthemes. Conclusions: The patients in the burn unit demonstrated an understanding and appreciation for the qualities of patience, hard work, compassion, and love that the nurses possess. They also noted the meticulous attention paid by the nurses to their needs, which exemplifies the purest human traits and professional characteristics in patient care and can be seen as an art form in nursing.