The Importance of Storytelling in Nursing Care

Oct 13, 2025 by wbrum.org 7 views

Nursing Care Application of Storytelling to Improve Coping Mechanisms to School-age Children in New Normal Life

Introduction

The COVID-19 pandemic has brought about significant changes in life, particularly for school-age children. The shift to online learning and social restrictions has had a profound impact on their mental health, including their ability to cope with new stress and challenges. In this context, storytelling therapy emerges as an effective way to enhance the coping mechanisms of school-age children. This article explores the application of storytelling in nursing care to improve the coping mechanisms of school-age children in the New Normal era.

The Importance of Storytelling in Nursing Care

Storytelling therapy is a therapeutic playing method that involves telling stories to help children express their feelings and thoughts. Through stories, children can understand and process their experiences, and learn how to overcome difficulties. In a senior practice held on July 15, 2022, at the Usman Syarif Islamic Boarding School, storytelling was applied to increase coping mechanisms in 6 school-age children (13-15 years). The program used video storytelling that presented information related to COVID-19.

The evaluation results showed that this method was effective in increasing the child's coping mechanism. Children demonstrated changes in positive behavior and were able to develop effective coping strategies to face New Normal challenges.

Why Storytelling is Effective

Storytelling therapy has several advantages in helping children overcome stress and increase their coping mechanisms:

Building Empathy

The story allows children to feel and understand the feelings of the characters in the story, which ultimately helps them recognize and process their own emotions. This is a crucial aspect of emotional intelligence, as children learn to empathize with others and develop a deeper understanding of their own emotions.

Improving Communication Skills

Storytelling encourages children to express their thoughts and feelings through language. This helps them in developing important communication skills in dealing with various situations. By engaging in storytelling, children learn to articulate their emotions and needs, which is essential for building strong relationships with others.

Building Self-Confidence

Telling stories gives children the opportunity to actively participate, express themselves, and share their experiences with others. This can help increase their confidence and the ability to socialize. As children become more comfortable sharing their stories, they develop a sense of self-assurance that enables them to navigate challenging situations with greater ease.

Provides a Strategy to Overcome the Problem

Stories often display characters who face difficulties and overcome problems. Through stories, children can learn effective strategies to solve their own problems. This is particularly important in the New Normal era, where children face various new challenges such as anxiety related to COVID-19, routine changes, and social isolation.

The Importance of Application of Storytelling in the New Normal Era

In the New Normal era, children face various new challenges that can impact their mental health and well-being. Storytelling can be a powerful tool to help children overcome this difficulty and build their ability to face new challenges.

By using storytelling, children can:

Recognizing and Processing Anxiety

The story can help them express and understand their anxiety related to COVID-19 and online learning. This is essential for developing coping strategies and managing anxiety in a healthy way.

Developing Strategies to Face Social Isolation

Stories can offer new ways to socialize and establish connections with others in the midst of social restrictions. This is particularly important for children who may be struggling with social isolation and feelings of loneliness.

Building Mental Resilience

Stories can help them develop the ability to face difficulties and remain optimistic in dealing with challenging situations. This is a crucial aspect of mental resilience, as children learn to navigate adversity with greater ease and develop a growth mindset.

Conclusion

The application of storytelling in nursing care is an effective method for increasing the coping mechanisms of school-age children in the New Normal era. This method helps children to express themselves, understand their emotions, and build skills to overcome important problems in facing challenges today. By incorporating storytelling into nursing care, healthcare professionals can provide children with a powerful tool for managing stress, anxiety, and other mental health challenges.

Recommendations

Based on the findings of this study, the following recommendations are made:

Healthcare professionals should incorporate storytelling into nursing care to help children develop coping mechanisms and manage stress and anxiety.
Parents and caregivers should use storytelling as a tool to help children process their emotions and develop emotional intelligence.
Educators should incorporate storytelling into the curriculum to help children develop communication skills, empathy, and self-confidence.
Researchers should conduct further studies to explore the effectiveness of storytelling in nursing care and its potential applications in various settings.

By implementing these recommendations, we can provide children with the tools they need to thrive in the New Normal era and develop the resilience and coping mechanisms necessary to face the challenges of the future.
Frequently Asked Questions: Storytelling in Nursing Care

Q: What is storytelling therapy, and how does it work?

A: Storytelling therapy is a therapeutic playing method that involves telling stories to help children express their feelings and thoughts. Through stories, children can understand and process their experiences, and learn how to overcome difficulties. The therapist uses stories to help children identify and express their emotions, develop problem-solving skills, and build coping mechanisms.

Q: How does storytelling help children develop coping mechanisms?

A: Storytelling helps children develop coping mechanisms by providing them with a safe and supportive environment to express their emotions and thoughts. Through stories, children can learn to recognize and process their emotions, develop problem-solving skills, and build resilience. This can help them develop effective coping strategies to face challenges and manage stress and anxiety.

Q: What are some benefits of using storytelling in nursing care?

A: Some benefits of using storytelling in nursing care include:

Improved emotional intelligence and empathy
Enhanced communication skills and self-confidence
Increased ability to recognize and process emotions
Development of problem-solving skills and coping mechanisms
Improved mental health and well-being

Q: How can parents and caregivers use storytelling to help children develop coping mechanisms?

A: Parents and caregivers can use storytelling to help children develop coping mechanisms by:

Reading stories together and discussing emotions and experiences
Encouraging children to create and tell their own stories
Using stories to model healthy coping mechanisms and problem-solving skills
Providing a supportive and non-judgmental environment for children to express themselves

Q: What are some tips for using storytelling in nursing care?

A: Some tips for using storytelling in nursing care include:

Using stories that are relevant and relatable to the child's experiences and emotions
Encouraging children to participate in the storytelling process and create their own stories
Using stories to model healthy coping mechanisms and problem-solving skills
Providing a supportive and non-judgmental environment for children to express themselves

Q: Can storytelling be used with children of all ages?

A: Yes, storytelling can be used with children of all ages. However, the approach and content of the stories may need to be adapted to the child's age and developmental level.

Q: How can educators incorporate storytelling into the curriculum?

A: Educators can incorporate storytelling into the curriculum by:

Using stories to teach social-emotional skills and character development
Encouraging children to create and tell their own stories
Using stories to model healthy coping mechanisms and problem-solving skills
Providing a supportive and non-judgmental environment for children to express themselves

Q: What are some resources for learning more about storytelling in nursing care?

A: Some resources for learning more about storytelling in nursing care include:

Books and articles on storytelling and narrative therapy
Online courses and workshops on storytelling and narrative therapy
Professional organizations and conferences on storytelling and narrative therapy
Online communities and forums for sharing ideas and best practices

Q: How can I get started with using storytelling in nursing care?

A: To get started with using storytelling in nursing care, you can:

Read books and articles on storytelling and narrative therapy
Attend online courses and workshops on storytelling and narrative therapy
Join professional organizations and conferences on storytelling and narrative therapy
Start by using simple storytelling techniques with children, such as reading stories together and discussing emotions and experiences.