College of Nursing, Wick Poetry Center host ‘Healing Stanzas’

Abigail Winternitz

The Kent State College of Nursing and the Wick Poetry Center are partnering up throughout the next few weeks to bring students and faculty the “Healing Stanzas” poetry workshop.

The program consists of several hour-long sessions where nursing students and faculty members can learn ways to look at their chosen profession through poetry.

“We’re excited to hear the voices of students and staff in the nursing school, and how they make sense of their important work,” David Hassler, director of the Wick Poetry Center, said. “Poetry is a simple, but profound way to slow down and give a voice to their thoughts.”

The program is in partnership with the College of Nursing’s 50th-anniversary celebration and has already held one session for students and staff on Feb. 1.

“There was a lot of wonderful discussion about the differences between the words ‘curing’ and ‘healing,’” Hassler said. “While curing simply means to eradicate, healing means to make whole. A patient in the line of nursing could very well be cured, but not fully healed — there has to be a distinction.”

Two more sessions will be held at the Wick Poetry Center: One for faculty on Feb. 15, from 2 – 3 p.m. and one for students on Feb. 16, from 7- 8 p.m.

To register, contact [email protected]