When art speaks: Revealing the hidden grief of aged care nurses
An article written by Dr Michelle Stubbs, Program Convenor (Nursing), Senior Lecturer, School of Nursing and Midwifery, University of Newcastle
“Art allowed nurses to say what words had never fully captured.”
Grief is rarely discussed in aged care, yet it sits quietly behind the routines, compassion, and continuity of care that registered nurses provide every day. [1] While families often receive support and attention after a death, the emotional burden carried by nurses tends to remain invisible. A recent study led at the University of Newcastle offers a way to see that hidden landscape, through colour, symbols, and artistic expression. [2] This innovative research invited nine aged‑care nurses to participate in a one‑hour creative session where they translated their experiences of grief into drawings or paintings. The resulting artworks opened a window into the emotional realities of aged‑care nursing that traditional interviews alone could not reveal.
The emotional language of colour
“Colour became a language, charting the emotional terrain of loss.”
For many participants, colour acted as a visual vocabulary for grief. Dark tones appeared in several artworks to convey heaviness or sadness, while bright yellows, greens, or oranges often represented peace, hope, or transformation. A few nurses deliberately avoided symbolism, choosing colours simply because they felt intuitive. This diversity highlights that grief is not a uniform experience. Within the same environment, emotional responses vary widely, shaped by cultural backgrounds, personal histories, and individual coping mechanisms.
Where grief begins: The first stroke
“Their first brushstroke often revealed where their grief began.”
The study found that the first element each nurse chose to draw held deep significance. Some began with imagery communicating turmoil, an outline of a head symbolising mental struggle, or a background depicting the gravity of death. Others started with symbols of release, such as sunlight or wings. These first marks often matched how nurses emotionally enter the experience of a resident’s end of life: sometimes through sadness or confusion, other times through compassion or acceptance.
Symbols of peace, spirit, and connection
“Butterflies, birds, and soft light became symbols of release and connection.”
A recurring feature across the artworks was the use of symbolic imagery. Butterflies and birds frequently appeared as representations of freedom or spiritual transition. Some nurses incorporated domes or suns as symbols of faith or peace. Others drew familiar rooms, spaces that emphasised the importance of residents being able to die in a comforting environment. These symbols reveal the depth of attachment nurses form with residents, as well as their desire for each person to experience dignity, meaning, and continuity in their final moments.
Why creative expression matters
“Grief did not disappear in the workplace, it simply went unspoken.”
Aged care nurses often feel pressured to “stay strong” or move quickly to the next task, leaving little time to process repeated exposure to death. Art provided a safe, reflective space, one that didn’t require eloquent language or professional distance. This approach also highlighted the profound emotional resilience nurses demonstrate. By externalising grief visually, they created space for healing, clarity, and renewed sense of purpose.
Caring for the carers
“Supporting nurses means recognising grief as part of the job, not a personal burden.”
As aged care continues to evolve, the study suggests a clear opportunity: make creative and reflective practices part of workplace wellbeing. Whether through art‑based workshops, reflective journaling, group debriefs, or guided creative sessions, aged‑care organisations can help nurses process cumulative grief in healthy, sustainable ways.
Take home message
Nurses provide extraordinary compassion to residents and families. They deserve compassionate support in return, support that acknowledges the emotional reality of their work and creates space for expression, connection, and resilience.
References
- Stubbs M, Sunner C, Gaviola M, Popoola T, Reis J. Experiences of grief and loss among registered nurses in residential aged care facilities: A qualitative descriptive study. Death Stud. 2025:1-15.
- Stubbs M, Gaviola M, Sunner C, Reis J. Articulating grief: Arts-based therapy as a pathway to resilience in nursing practice. Int J Ment Health Nurs. 2026;35(1):e70218.
Author
Dr Michelle Stubbs
Program Convenor (Nursing), Senior Lecturer
School of Nursing and Midwifery, University of Newcastle