On Wednesday the NEH fellows met for a writing work-shop led by Jim Stubenrauch & Joy Jacboson
prior to the meting we were asked to read a Chapter from
“Teaching the Other Self” from the Essential Don Murray and selected reading from “Writing as a Way of Healing ” from Louise De Salvo
When the day arrived some of us from the” Science side ” of the fellows were filled with trepidation. In fact, when we filled the room we split into two groups – the Humanities sat across from us on the Left as you entered,Ā the School of Professional Studies faculty chose the right side of the room and so the faculty filled the oblong conference table. If I were Freudian I would say we chose the side of the brain we use most often in our professional lives.
We were asked to read poetry aloud – Joy brought some selections from a writer who published about life experiences,Ā her cancer, her culture , death..
Some of us had not read any poetry since College or even High School-
It was very moving and we became closer as we shared our thoughts and feelings.
DuringĀ the writing exercise portion of the work shop we concentrated and wrote freely.
Our voices breaking free and clamoring to be heard. We sharedĀ intimate moments in our lives along with theĀ mundane andĀ almost comic.Ā What does it mean to be a writer? I was told thatĀ my “authentic voice” was heard and the listener could imagine that the narrator was a 10 year old child.
That validated my feelings and my authorship of that particular piece. Yet, I still do not think I am a writer- but I can tell my story- and that is what we are try to accomplish
Freeing our students to tell their stories and then to be able to listen and to “close read” their patients stories for the subtext the unspoken.
From the Humanities Professor who teaches speech and acting she said the students are told to act the feelings not the lines- What is not being said the unstated-
That was so amazing to me- I do try to impress upon my students that the patient will tell you what is wrong with them , if you know how to ask the “right questions” andĀ listen to the answers.
But, there is more- listening to what the patient doesn’t say – what is going on beneath the spoken words- that is often what separates a good diagnostician from and excellent one. We may label it intuition or “critical thinking ” and ask can we teach it
and Wednesday I learned that Actors do in fact learn it- why not Health Care Professionals?
To Listen to Observe the unspoken to act the emotions not the dialogue.
Well It was an incredible day-
I am sure we all had ahhha moments and there were other “take aways”.
I know that this experience is broadening my horizons and already impacting my classroom teaching. I opened my Community Health NursingĀ Class with one of the Poems ( someone please send me the writersĀ name again I want to order her book!)Ā we discussed the impact of cancer on the patient & family members, the role of the CHN. A poem helped us discuss ethics,Ā values, death and dying, cost of health care and managed care and culture. My class was very moved.
I will post the reading resourcesĀ under documents so all can share them.
I hope my “Fellow Fellows” will share some of their thoughts as well.
