Have we lost sight of the mirrors?: the therapeutic utility of mirrors in patient rooms.

There is little known research in nursing or in hospital design on mirrors. This article reports the results of a survey of the mirrors in patient rooms in 10 hospitals. The survey focused on the mirrors within rooms where women with breast cancer who have had a partial or complete mastectomy might stay after surgery. Mirrors to view one's full body and mirrors for the bed-bound patient were not available in the majority of hospitals. Privacy to view self in the mirror was also lacking. Viewing self in the mirror is an everyday lived experience for many outside the hospital. This survey points to a need for further research on the mirror in nursing practice and within our healing healthcare environments.