Overview

Dancing with Dementia: Using the Art of Poetry to Become a Reflective Practitioner collects poems written by Robert John Raingruber as he began his descent into Lewy Body Dementia and his wife, Bonnie Jean Raingruber, a mental health nurse, as she cared for him. After the poems, the book provides readers with a tutorial on how to develop their own poems to process intense feelings and experiences that accompany working with patients and families facing difficult diagnoses and healthcare journeys. The text demonstrates how reading and writing poetry can enhance nurses' emotional awareness, leading to improved caregiving and personal growth. It underscores the transformation of challenging situations into valuable insights, asserting poetry's role in deepening compassion and understanding in nursing practice. By engaging with the literary form, practitioners can reflect on their values, beliefs, and actions, fostering professional and personal development. Suitable for both undergraduate and graduate nursing programs, Dancing with Dementia aids in developing reflective capabilities, empathy, and personal understanding. It is ideal for courses focused on mental health, palliative care, aging, community health, and courses that encourage creative approaches to healthcare.

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Author Information

Bonnie Jean Raingruber is a child/adolescent mental health clinical specialist who worked at the Center for Nursing Research at University of California, Davis, and at California State University, Sacramento. She holds a master's degree in mental health and a Ph.D. in nursing from the University of California, San Francisco. Dr. Raingruber has been a nurse manager, psychiatric nurse, home health nurse, professor, and nurse researcher.

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