Although I won’t be reviewing most of the poetry books I read in August for #thesealeychallenge, I have a review to share of a book that I read at the end of July. I know the poet from our experience as the mothers of children through international adoption, as well as being the mothers of musical theatre daughters.
Poetic Expressions in Nursing: Sharing the Caring, by Susan J. Farese MSN, RN, is from the perspective of a nurse who writes poetry to express her feelings and as a stress-reliever.
After her careers in military and civilian nursing, Susan is self-employed in the communications field. Susan has taught seminars encouraging nurses to use poetry as another form of communication. I relish this stanza for how it exemplifies the encouragement:
Brave and famous poets we need not be
but writing from the heart, that sets us free
Through poems we tell our stories
Share pain, grief, caring, glories
Regardless of our nursing specialty.
Susan’s poetry collection tells the family history stories of where her desire to be a nurse originated. In particular, the decline and death from Alzheimer’s of Grandma Ann, described in “Ann’s Zest Ends,” was very poignant. Another poem tells the tragic story of Grandpa Joe who died of an asthma attack in his own kitchen. These family reminiscences really spoke to me.
In many of her poems, Susan gives nurses a voice. Very often nurses are relegated to background status (to the doctors and the system), so Susan allows the reader to appreciate nurses and what they do for us. She also gives a voice to some patients who died too young. One of the themes that runs through some of the poems is that of intuition. She wants nurses to use their intuition and to value the intuition of patients or the family of patients.
The book has a bonus section of haikus paired with Susan’s beautiful photography. Susan has made haiku her own poetic specialty, but most of the book is in various forms of free verse. Susan creates forms that work best for each individual poem.
This collection, with its very accessible poems, would make a lovely gift for nurse or patient in your life.
No questions for Susan, just deep appreciation. Good luck at the vets.
Thank you for your appreciation for nurses and nursing poetry – it warms my heart. Luanne will also see this message about her vet visits and we wish her cats well.
Reblogged this on SJF Communications- 'Creative Ideas | Dynamic Results' and commented:
Thank you so much, Luanne for your wonderful review of “Poetic Expressions in Nursing: Sharing the Caring”. I realized, that not only are we kindred spirits as international adoption (and musical theatre) moms, we are also cat moms!
Wonderful, Luanne – loved this one on nurses. The too often unsung heroes of our illnesses.
Also, you have inspired me to set a goal for August for my writings. I have lost my way of late but will look to the inspiration of poetry to guide me home.
Sheila,
So glad you enjoyed Luanne’s review of “Poetic Expressions in Nursing: Sharing the Caring” and all good wishes for your poetic inspirations during this month and beyond!
An excellent review of your book, Susan. Are you familiar with the field of Medical Humanities? It’s been growing by leaps in bounds in the last twenty years or so.
Liz, thanks so much for your comment. As far as the field of medical humanities goes, I need to learn more! Are there any links you can share?
I am a bit more familiar with nursing and the value of creative healing arts. My book ‘evolved’ from writing my heartfelt poetry and was originally published long ago – in 1993! I subsequently taught many classes/seminars about poetry to nurses and others in health care. This is the 2nd edition in 2021, a result of the amount of stress, burnout etc. that nurses are experiencing with the pandemic. Poetry can be a cathartic and therapeutic creative avenue.
Bellevue Hospital was a leader in the field with The Bellevue Literary Review, which was initially used to teach empathy to medical students. Here is the link. https://blreview.org/ If you look at the reading guides for the journal, they should give you a good sense of Medical Humanities. I just discovered through a Google search that Saint Leo University, where I used to work, is offering a BA in Medical Humanities! https://www.saintleo.edu/blog/what-is-medical-humanities-degree-what-can-you-do-with-it
Liz,
Awesome info re: medical humanities. Thank you!
You’re welcome!
Super review, Luanne. Nice to meet you, Susan. All the best to you.
A lovely review, and a superb topic. I have such respect for nurses.
Thank you Merril, we appreciate your kind words for Luanne and your interest in the topic as well as respect for nurses!
You’re very welcome!
Thank you John for your kind comments for Luanne and nice to meet you as well.
An enticing review
Thank you Derrick! I’m sure Luanne will see your note soon!
This is a wonderful review. And the unsung heroes, they need all the appreciation and more.
Thank you Zeenat for your kind thoughts.
Wonderful, Luanne! 🙂 I do hope the cats are doing better.
Lovely review, Luanne. Good luck with the vet visits <3
Nice to meet you, Susan. As Zeenat notes in her comment, nurses are unsung heroes. As a patient and the wife of a patient, I've had many interactions with nurses over the years. Long after the doctors and specialists have gone, the nurses are still there, making sure all is right. Thank you for your service as a nurse and for giving back to the field.
Many thanks for your kind words Marie and appreciation of nurses. The poetry in “Poetic Expressions in Nursing: Sharing the Caring” celebrates nurses for sure but also describes stresses, conflicts, joys etc. and aspects of nursing care.