The Use of Music in Nursing Practice

Author(s): Heiser, R., Shawler, C., Branson, P.

Journal/Book: International Journal of Arts Medicine. 1995; 4:

Abstract: ÒUnnecessary noise, or noise that creates an expectation in the mind, is that which hurts a patientÓ (Nightingale, 1859, p. 29). Nightingale was the first nurse-researcher to recognize, identify, and describe the importance of the environment and its effect upon health and patient response. At the time, poor air quality, dimly lit rooms, and external noise were environmental hazards to health. In present environments, the business of healthcare takes place in biotechnological arenas that are still composed of extraneous noises and movement. As technology has advanced, so has concern for the stress this noise creates within all of us. Nursing is still uniquely responsible for patient well-being by ensuring a therapeutic environment. The intent of this article is to demonstrate how and in what settings nurses have used music to effect particular patient outcomes in various clinical settings. At the University of Kentucky Hospital, music has been integrated into current nursing practice and has positively impacted the environment of the hospital and patient care. The authors have tracked this phenomenon through several research-based studies.

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