I have always had an eye for beautiful things and I am able to convey that in my photography. My subjects are my coworkers and their families. I am surrounded by inspiration at Baptist South which is very helpful to me, not just as a photographer, but also as a nurse. Candy Camerden, RN Baptist South

MASSAGE CHAIR WAS DONATED BY BAPTIST SOUTH PHYSICIANS FOR THE ICU CARE ROOM.

Care Room ICU designed by Susan Cotton, RN and ICU staff

More of the Care Room @ Baptist South

FSC...Here we are in Texas for the ICC and CCEP. Let's talk about an alumni track!!

Here is an idea for a collaborative project. The nursing staff of 4B created individual symbols with colored pencils to represent something about their interest.

Nursing staff Baptist Medical Center 4B

Caritas Corner

Sweet treats given to leadership for a job well done !!

Baptist ED Art Intervention

BEFORE

AFTER

Silk scarfs drying in the sun painted by nursing students at UF.

Healing Art Process taught to nursing students at University of Florida

May 20, 2011 (late entry) 


Class of Dr. Mary Rockwell Lane at University of Fl. in Gainesville, Fl.
Workshop given to prepare students for patients with pain issues, anxiety and the stress of hospitalization.

https://picasaweb.google.com/lh/photo/n8Qgh6Ogb1EymQgjVkFQww?feat=directlink

Poetry from one of our own.

 From "Fire in the Bones" by Jamie Chiles, RN

One Day

One day I will
gather up
all of your tears
and bring them
into myself to
hold for you.

Little by little
I will give them
up to the sun
and they will
vanish into light.

Caring for the Caregiver

 We have 2 excellent nurses (I want use their names without permission) at Baptist South involved in the Jean Watson Caritas Coach Education Program. A goal for all three of us, along with the hospital administration has been to create a caring room for staff. My job was to do a painting that would help decompress, if for only a brief moment, the stress level of being an Intensive Care Nurse.The staff voted on a topic (seascape) and I painted a very large 4'x4' canvas which was hung yesterday in the Caring Room. I am so happy to be a part of this project and think so highly of this caring staff. I will get a photo of the room after its completed and post on this blog so you can tell me what you think.  

See the Beauty in Everything

Artist Statement

A recent experience in our unit was the inspiration for this painting. A patient we cared for suffered from a cancer which affected her outer beauty, leaving her grossly disfigured. The process of caring for her day after day, month after month as she deteriorated was a painful process. The night she passed I painted this and although I did not realize this at the time, I believe I was subconsciously processing this experience, perhaps grieving, perhaps paying respect to her and to the inner beauty which lies within all of us.
Katie Kiley Suggs R.N.

Healing Scar

Artist Statement

My journey of healing is represented in this painting, “Healing Scar”, as a mirror image. This scar, this healing scar, is something I see. I feel it. It speaks to me that I am a survivor. From hope comes life, believing in the future, beauty…facing our mortality is liberating. It frees us to live. Thank you for allowing me to share my journey and my healing with you as a six year breast cancer survivor.

Cheryl Collins, R.N.

Blooming Bottle Caps

Artist Statement

I believe this piece represents the idea that we are all different types of flowers. All though the flowers are all different when together they make a colorful arrangement. The same can be said when we work together to provide excellent patient care. We all have the same goal, providing what is best for the patient and family.
The flowers were made with various medciation tops used here at the hospital. The flower pot and background was freehanded and painted with waterbased paint.

Lorine Wilson
RN, 5A

Lorine Wilson, RN and Terri Russell, RN

These two nurses from Baptist South have invented a whole new concept for making art. They used multi colored throw away medication bottle caps from the pharmacy and recycled them into a fashion statement. Notice the floral arrangement added to their name tag. Yes its medication bottle caps! Hats off ladies!

The Artist Nurse

We encourage members and visitors of this blogg site to grow in numbers as we dedicate our caring abilities to advance the use of art in our healthcare facilities. I will be sharing my experiences as a Caritas Coach and Resident Artist at Baptist Medical Center, Jacksonville, Fl. and hope that you will use the comment option to share with me your experiences (what works and what doesn't) as we continue to advance in this caring path. We are dedicated to bring Nurse Artist to the forefront and implementing the research proven success that art interventions in the healthcare system have a valid and honored place.