College of Nursing creative writing awards announced

The 2022- 2023 UNMC Creative Writing Project Creative Writing Awards have been announced. This year’s writing prompt was, “Nurses Confront Boundaries That Separate Us.”

The prompt was chosen because nurses confront boundaries that are difficult to cross — different political views, races, genders or incomes promote stereotypes and hamper true relationships. Yet, nurses cross these boundaries every day to provide effective care. When nurses confront these boundaries successfully, they become better nurses.

This year, the contest looked for stories where students confronted a boundary and came out the other side a better nurse. Or the contest welcomed stories describing what was learned from such experiences.

There were almost 40 entries from all of UNMC College of Nursing’s five campuses and programs. All the stories reflected the struggles nurses face in their day-to-day work and the strength and meaning that nurses derive from their work.

The winner of the Creative Writing Award will receive a $2,000 award and read their stories on a Zoom banquet on March 21 at 5 pm. All are welcome to attend the virtual event. Email Amelia Stoltman to register.

This is the third year of the Creative Writing Award, and more than $40,000 in awards have been given to students. The award is part of the UNMC College of Nursing Creative Writing Project, dedicated to supporting nurses in telling their stories. The project was supported by a grant by the UNMC Diversity Fund and was founded by Mark Darby and Mary Petersen as a way for nursing students to use writing to successfully integrate the emotional and cognitive reactions to difficult clinical situations.

Said Darby, “We live in a world of evidence-based health care, where information and research is the highest form of knowledge. But in such a hierarchy, we can lose professional growth made possible by reflection. Crafting and telling our story as health care providers promotes growth and integration, and it improves our ability to be empathetic to patients.”

Stoltman, co-leader of the Creative Writing Project, said, “These stories are a great testament to our students’ resilience and talent. Reading them each year is a genuine pleasure.”