The Digication Blog

Sharyl Toscano was on Digication Scholars Conversations

Nursing education faces numerous challenges today, with nurse shortages and burnout at the forefront. These issues impact the healthcare system and affect the nurses' well-being.

Innovative approaches are needed to address these pressing problems. One such practice is reflective storytelling, which holds the potential to help nurse practitioners thrive rather than merely survive in their profession.

Reflective storytelling allows nurses to process their experiences, draw meaningful insights, and apply them in future scenarios. This technique enhances their professional practice and supports their personal growth and resilience.

This Digication Scholars Conversations episode explores the transformative power of reflective storytelling in nursing education. We draw insights from our conversation with Sharyl Toscano, Professor at the School of Nursing in the Graduate and BS Nursing Program at the University of Alaska Anchorage.

The Power of Storytelling in Nursing

Storytelling has long held historical and cultural significance in nursing. It serves as a powerful tool for understanding patient experiences and building rapport. Sharyl emphasizes the importance of storytelling in nursing education, stating:

I've always used my practice or clinical stories in my teaching. But something I’ve been doing more recently is having the students reflect on their experience and tell their story, where they connect it... Sharyl Toscano on the Digication Scholars Conversations

 

Watson's Caring Framework

Jean Watson's Carative Factors provide a robust framework for connecting storytelling to nursing.

Her theory emphasizes the humanistic aspects of nursing and underscores the importance of caring in the nurse-patient relationship. By weaving Watson's Carative Factors into storytelling, nursing students can delve deeper into their clinical experiences, reflecting on how those experiences relate to essential elements of caring, such as cultivating a trusting relationship with patients, providing holistic care, promoting a supportive environment, assisting with the gratification of human needs, and being fully present with them.

Nonviolent Communication & Reflective Storytelling in Nursing

Nonviolent Communication (NVC) is another essential component that can enhance communication in nursing. NVC focuses on empathetic listening and expressing oneself without judgment. Sharyl describes how she incorporates NVC into her teaching: "We bring in a little nonviolent communication. We try to bring in the other or the student, like, what are their feelings... trying to connect the feeling they're having to a need that's either met or unmet."

Using NVC, nurses can address conflicts more effectively and promote a supportive work environment. Nursing students can integrate reflective storytelling with NVC to develop better communication skills, leading to improved interactions with patients and colleagues.

Self-Care for Nurses

nurse-shortage-naidoo-jade-photography-unsplash

Nurse burnout is a significant issue, and effective self-care strategies are crucial for maintaining well-being. Sharyl shares her approach: "I introduce them to multiple strategies... telling the story is like a kind of unifying piece of that."

Reflective storytelling can be a powerful tool for self-care. By reflecting on experiences and sharing stories, nurses can process emotions, identify needs, and develop healthy coping mechanisms with powerful tools like the ePortfolio for documenting reflective practices.

Practical Self-Care Activities for Nurses

Journaling, group discussions, and creative expression through art or music are examples of self-care activities Nurses can integrate with a reflective storytelling routine. Healthy self-care options like mindfulness, exercise, and connecting with nature can complement storytelling and enhance well-being. These activities provide a safe space for nurses to express themselves, reflect on their experiences, and find peer support.

Strength-Based Approach in Nursing

A strength-based approach focuses on identifying and building upon individual strengths. Sharyl explains how reflective storytelling can help nurses recognize their strengths: "We kind of pull these apart, these narratives that they write... How can we look at this from a strength-based appreciative inquiry?"

Reflective storytelling can help nurses identify their strengths and build upon them. By reflecting on their experiences and sharing their stories, nurses can recognize their skills, achievements, and qualities. This process can boost their confidence and motivation, helping them to feel more empowered and capable in their roles. A strength-based approach fosters a positive and supportive work environment where nurses feel valued and appreciated for their contributions.

By adopting a strength-based approach, nurses can create a more positive and empowering work environment. Reflective storytelling encourages them to focus on their successes and strengths, fostering a sense of accomplishment and resilience.

Team Nursing and Reflective Storytelling

The resurgence of team nursing has implications for nursing education. Reflective storytelling can be crucial in developing teamwork skills and fostering collaboration. Sharyl notes:

Reflective storytelling can help nurses develop teamwork skills, improve communication, and foster collaboration... Sharyl Toscano.

Reflective storytelling can play a significant role in team nursing. By reflecting on experiences and sharing stories, nurses can develop teamwork skills, improve communication, and foster collaboration.

Debriefing Team Experiences

By debriefing team experiences through storytelling, nurses can identify areas for improvement and enhance their collective practice. For example, after a challenging shift, a team might gather to share stories, reflect on what went well, and discuss what could be improved. This process strengthens the team and promotes continuous learning and development.

Reflective Storytelling in the Nursing Curriculum

Integrating reflective storytelling into the nursing curriculum can be done through various methods, such as journaling, group discussions, and ePortfolios. Sharyl highlights the importance of providing students with guidance and support: "What if you flip that focus and just try to focus on from an appreciative approach... where are the strengths, where is the success?"

ePortfolios as Reflective Tools

ePortfolios are digital artifacts showcasing an individual's skills, experiences, and achievements. In the context of nursing education, ePortfolios can serve as a powerful reflective tool. Students can use ePortfolios to document their clinical experiences, reflect on their learning, and receive instructor feedback.

"We encourage students to use ePortfolios to track their progress and reflect on their development throughout the program, Sharyl added."

By embedding reflective storytelling into ePortfolios, nursing students can create a comprehensive record of their journey, highlighting their growth and areas for improvement. This not only aids in self-reflection but also prepares them for professional practice by having a ready-made portfolio to present to potential employers.

To conclude, reflective storytelling offers numerous benefits for nursing education. It addresses the challenges of the nursing shortage and burnout by providing nurses with the tools they need to thrive. Through storytelling, nurses can reflect on their experiences, improve communication, and develop a strength-based approach to their practice.

Reflective storytelling is a promising approach as we explore innovative nursing education methods.

Follow Digication on X, Facebook, and Instagram for more insights and information. Watch the full episode with Sharyl Toscano on YouTube to explore the potential of reflective storytelling in your nursing programs.