Reflections on the use of poetry in nurse education: Speaking a credible language of care

Based on the experience of using the poem 'The Nurse's Pockets' by Cortney Davis in reflective practice teaching sessions this paper considers the centrality of language as conveyed in poetry as a way of communicating nursing knowledge and experience. Using this poem facilitated a mutual position between the educator and the students that enhanced the reflective practice environment. An argument for using creative arts based approaches in nurse education is presented as a means of overcoming the threats to the unique nature of nursing knowledge evidenced in healthcare and higher education reform.