They Call Me the “Jazz Nurse”: A nurse incorporates musical talents into her every day practice

When I introduce myself as “Betsy Braud, the Jazz Nurse,” people ask what I do and why I call myself a Jazz Nurse. I explain that nursing is my occupation; that I include music in my nursing and nursing in my music; and that I serve my community as a performer, presenter and humanities educator. Growing up in Louisiana, music was at all times a component of my life. I began learning music on the age of 8, starting with piano lessons after which switching to flute on the age of 10. As a young person, I played the flute in the college band and church, and played with hippies within the park. As a young person, I helped myself through grief through music. I lost my father, uncle, brother and dear friend before I used to be 17 years old. Two years ago I lost one other brother. If it weren’t for music, I do not know where I could be. I consider within the healing power of music. There is an abundance of literary references extolling the advantages of music and a growing body of evidence showing how music can heal. I experienced it firsthand, up close and private. Genetically predisposed to be a healer, my first profession path was music therapy. Both of my parents were doctors, and 4 of my siblings are doctors or nurses. I used to be studying music therapy when I made a decision to pursue a level in music performance. My life modified in 1977 after I heard Alvin Batiste, legendary clarinetist and teacher, perform magic on his clarinet in New Orleans. Upon learning that he was an instructor and director of the Jazz Institute at Southern University in Baton Rouge, I transferred and commenced mentoring Batiste. I studied classical flute and graduated in music, immersing myself on the planet of jazz.

My journey into nursing

My maternal grandmother, Mamaw, got here to my mother’s aid on the day my father died in June 1968, but every week after his death she suffered an enormous stroke. So, at age 13, I started my profession as a nurse, spending summers caring for Mamaw, first within the hospital after which at home. Retired nurse. She became my mentor after I returned in the autumn of 1981 to mentor her again. I used to be a jazz musician back then and I at all times had daytime gigs. I performed in clubs, restaurants and festivals, and worked in a record store, restaurant and bookstore. But when my grandmother was diagnosed with metastatic cancer, my jazz profession was placed on the back burner. I returned to my hometown of Thibodaux and commenced studying nursing at Nicholls State University. I rented rooms in my family home to 3 students in my nursing class. We were my grandmother’s caregivers and her students. Whenever she had a nasty day, we’d ask her to sing the hymns she had chosen for her funeral. Music at all times lifted her spirits. She died during our second semester, but she taught us many things about caring for a dying patient and testified to the ability of music. My initial plan was to change into a house health nurse. I at all times traveled with a flute or saxophone and chaperoned a couple of songs for homebound patients. One of those patients gave me the title “jazz nurse” and it stuck. Although I used to be initially occupied with home health, I only worked in the sector for a yr. In 1984, I returned to varsity to finish my BSN, took a full-time birthing job in Thibodaux, and continued performing music. I even have been caring for moms and youngsters for over 30 years. I even have at all times incorporated music and laughter into my nursing practice – whether in L&D, high-risk maternity units, or ICU – and I at all times encourage nurses to include music into their practice.

The healing art of music

Baton Rouge Women’s Hospital, where I work, boasts an Arts in Medicine program that advantages employees, patients and visitors. The mission of the healing arts program is to offer everyone with the chance to experience the humanities. Although our program has only been around for a couple of years and relies heavily on volunteers, it has made a major impact. Armed with evidence that art heals, the hospital offers painting, journaling and other art classes to patients, in addition to classes for employees and area visitors. As a member of the Healing Arts Committee, I function coordinator of a series of monthly traveling concert events featuring local musicians. As the name suggests, the performer roams throughout the hospital, offering musical interludes wherever a gaggle of individuals may gather. The purpose of the concert events is to offer patients, guests and staff with uplifting musical moments. Positive reviews confirm our belief in the worth of those concert events.

Memorable moments

Music can have a major impact; I witnessed this within the chaotic days after Hurricane Katrina. Baton Rouge was a clearinghouse for victims evacuated from flooded homes in New Orleans. I volunteered on the temporary hospital as a nurse for 2 nights. The shocked faces of the patients indicated that these victims needed greater than just nursing care. Taking into consideration; I returned the subsequent evening armed with my flute, a bag of Mardi Gras beads, and meals – my daughter. Then I got an open invitation to return back to the shelter and play music. This shelter on the Louisiana State University campus and other shelters in Baton Rouge were open for several weeks to relocate refugees affected by the storm. I visited them each day until they were all closed. One of my fondest memories is the story of an elderly woman whose two daughters convinced her that she was hallucinating about hearing a flute. When I went to her bedside and suggested a song, she checked out her daughters with venom in her eyes and said, “I told you I hear a flute!” Her son Donald, a flutist within the military band in our nation’s capital, called me the subsequent day. He was delighted that I had shared music along with his mother and expressed deep gratitude. In 2015, 10 years after Katrina, I visited Washington, D.C. and was invited to tour Mount Vernon. My husband and I were invited to put a wreath on George Washington’s grave, there was a special prayer ceremony, after which Donald and I played a lovely duet called Amazing Grace. I’ll at all times treasure this memory. As I approach retirement, I plan to proceed my journey as a jazz artist performing in nightclubs, festivals and schools. I even have two self-produced CDs – “Do You Want to Be Healed?” and “Just what the doctor ordered.” I even have toured with my band The Jazz Nurse Prescription and performed in Brazil, France and Germany. I’ll proceed to share my gift of music so long as I can. about Photo: Betsy Braud Hodnett, BSN, RN. Photo: Don Kadair. To comment, please write an email [email protected].