Promoting Understanding Through Shared Human Connection in Photographs

Despite the nursing code of ethics, nurses may stigmatize persons experiencing homelessness, and this can impact the quality of care given. Visual art has the potential to create dialogue and promote social change. However, there is little existing research on how art impacts those observing it. The purpose of this descriptive pilot study was to explore nurses’ perceptions surrounding homelessness by exposing participants to an artistic representation depicting homelessness and shared human connection. A deductive, qualitative approach was used to examine positive and negative word use in writings completed by graduate nursing students before and after viewing a photographic exhibit. Findings revealed little change in negative word use and an increase in positive word use. These findings suggest that visual art may have the potential to increase empathy and humanization toward the people depicted.