A brief historical review of poetry’s place in nursing

Abstract

The relationship between nursing and poetry is not necessarily obvious and may often be seen as marginal to mainstream nursing activities. This review paper seeks to examine this relationship by taking primarily an historical perspective, starting from Nightingale and the development of mainstream professional nursing. Through an indicative rather than exhaustive literature review, the ebb and flow of this relationship is traced. This provides both an overview and specific insights into the ways that poetry can manifest within nursing, highlighting some recent developments and the potential for further applications. As such the paper argues that poetry in its various forms should have more central consideration within nursing practice, education and research.