THE MANY FACES OF CARING IN NURSING.

Nonverbal communication is essential with children. Nurses are challenged when answers to assessment questions include shoulder shrugs and descriptions of 'ouchies' and pain all over that feels 'bad.' Pediatric nursing requires creativity and eliciting expression of emotions nonverbally. One way our patients express themselves is through art therapy. The art therapist on our unit uses masks with children who choose not to express themselves with words. I chose to create a mask as sculpture to nonverbally share my values, feelings, and compassion, just like my pediatric patients. As I worked with the mask, many faces of nursing emerged.