Afternoon at the Museum: Finding Connection and Meaning

Outcomes 1. “See deeply” when examining a piece of art and describe how similar strategies could be used in hospice and palliative care clinical settings.2. Gain insight into an aspect of meaning from the participant's clinical work through a work of art in the museum.The practice of hospice and palliative care provides the privilege of presence with patients, families, and colleagues at some of life's most important moments. These moments require close observation, and we often need to connect these observations to infer the deeper meaning for those involved. Within our daily practice and growing clinical demands, nurturing observational skills and reflective capacities in ourselves and our trainees can be a challenge. However, these approaches can be sustaining and restoring.One strategy that holds potential to address these needs for close observation and reflection is art museum teaching. Art museum teaching encompasses a variety of strategies in which medical and museum educators use art to impart lessons which are otherwise difficult to convey. This teaching has been studied with many types of learners, including medical students, residents and faculty as well as nurses and interprofessional groups. Outcomes include improved observational skills, pattern recognition, emotional recognition, empathy, identification of narrative, awareness of multiple perspectives, tolerance of ambiguity and positive views toward communication skills. While these skills are all central to hospice and palliative care, we are aware of only one published report where similar museum teaching strategies were used to highlight bias and differing perspectives around decision making for patients in pain.This engaging and intimate pre-conference workshop at the Phoenix Museum of Art invites participants to experience art museum teaching, refining observation skills, and connecting to meaning while considering how to learn and apply these teaching strategies in their practice settings.