Why Not Poems in the Waiting Room?

Anumber of years ago, as a consultant to a rural community hospital Healing Environment Committee, I recommended that TVs, piped-in music, and inappropriate magazines be removed from all waiting rooms. Most of the waiting rooms in the hospital opened out intomain corridors. The cacophony of the TVs andmusic combined was disconcerting, interrupting conversation and thought. Although committee members agreed that this was so, some thought that the community wanted and even needed the TV for distraction. They feared a backlash of anger. Discussions ensued, and it was pointed out by some that the choice of a TV program was usually made by one person and others present were expected to go along with that choice, even the level of sound. Another shared the fact that staff picked themusic in the laboratory waiting room, patients were never asked. It is important here to note ethnomusicologist Elizabeth Miles’ words on the implications of listening to other’s music choices. ‘‘Any time you listen to music that someone else has chosen you are allowing other people to color yourmood and control your body and mind.’’ The selection of magazines available was insensitive to the plight of thosewaiting, somewere an insult to their intelligence. None were in languages other than English. After lengthydiscussions, itwasdecided that itwould be a worthwhile endeavor to conduct a time-limited trial of media-free waiting rooms and the elimination of offensive magazines. Response boxes with blank page composition bookswere installed in eachwaiting room and commentary began to appear. The initial responseswere not overwhelmingly in favor of the proposal, but as timewent on, the peace and quiet began to be favored. It is always interesting to read invited ongoing commentary and to learn how thoughtful responses influence others in a way nothing else can. Some were surprised to be given a choice; others were grateful for the quiet. Some choice words and advice was shared about the problematic magazines. Then, the committee, in concert with patient and family representatives, began to introduce literature that spoke to this community’s citizens: books and magazines about nature, floral design, art, architecture, and photography; short story collections; and literary journals with poetry. In consultation with community teachers, intriguing, appropriate literature was selected for children and teenagers. Then one remarkable day, I encountered two teenage girls sitting in the Radiology Waiting Area, and wonder of wonders, they were reading poetry to one another from one of the journals in the waiting room. One said to the other, ‘‘Wait, listen to this!’’ And then she read an entire poem to her friend with full inflection and strong voice. Her friend listened intently to her. They never noticed me standing in the doorway. Today, entering a clinic or hospital waiting room, you will see people looking intently at their cell phones screensIscrolling up and down, reading and sending text messages and e-mails. Some look quite concerned, and one imagines that they might be dealing with a crisis or a difficult task, both of which take them away from the reality at hand. But of course, there are pleasing messages to be read as well. And then for some, there is Author Affiliation: Distinguished Professor Emerita, College of Nursing, University of Massachusetts Amherst. Dr Young-Mason is author of States of Exile: Correspondences Between Art, Literature, and Nursing; 21 Words for Nurses; author/editor of the first and second edition of The Patient’s Voice: Experiences of Illness and Critical Moments: Doctor andNurseNarratives and Reflections; and numerous articles and essays in the medical, nursing, and cross-disciplinary literature. For thepast 24years, Young-Masonhas authored the ’’Nursing and theArts‘‘ column in Clinical Nurse Specialist: International Journal for Advanced Nursing Practice. Thecolumnexplores theways inwhich theperformingandexpressive arts inform and enrich the art of nursing practice. It seeks to answer the question: how might nurses continue to evolve their understanding of the human condition, their aesthetic perceptions, and their appreciation of the fleeting intangibles of human existence, whichmay seem insignificant compared with the scientific data they are accustomed to relying upon? DrYoung-Masonconsults to ruralandurbanhealthcare facilitiesonthecreation of healing environments includingDana-Farber Cancer Institute andBay State Franklin Medical Center. Young-Mason’s Web site, www.arts4health.org. The author reports no conflicts of interest. Correspondence: Jeanine Young-Mason, EdD, RN, CS, FAAN, College of Nursing, University of Massachusetts Amherst, 9 Seaview Ln, Newbury, MA 01951 (arts4health@comcast.net; www.arts4health.org). DOI: 10.1097/NUR.0000000000000200