Learning Objective #1: Gain an appreciation for the impact of artistic expression to help understand human responses in health and illness.

Learning Objective #2: Evaluate the use of such artistic expressions as poetry, painting, posters, and photographs for classroom and clinical instruction.

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The importance of integrating arts and humanities into any comprehensive discussion of technology has been well documented in classic and current literature—not only in nursing, also in philosophy and social sciences. At the University of Wisconsin-Eau Claire, graduate nursing students are required to share an artistic expression (such as poetry, art, music, or photography) representing their understanding of human responses in health and illness.

While the requirement that nurses grasp the significance of human responses is an essential part of social policy and nursing practice, understanding the full array of human responses is both supported and highlighted through the use of artistic expressions.

Examples of graduate nursing student outcomes including artistic expressions as well as approaches and strategies to evaluate and to encourage artistic expression in nursing students will be presented.