Tuesday, January 10, 2012

Loving Kindness, Dawn Smith RN

Dawn Smith, RN chooses rock painting to demonstrate Loving Kindness among her fellow nurses at Baptist Medical Center Beach .  Showing loving kindness is obviously a very desired quality for a nurse to have. We often use symbols as reminders for various things, so using affirmation statements and symbols is not a new concept.  In this art intervention the nursing staff is asked to paint a tiny polished stone with acrylic paint . On the stone they were to use their favorite color and a personal symbol that made them smile and for a second experience love and  kindness. Among the symbols in Dawn's group was a palm tree, family, faith symbol, sunshine, flower  and a sparkling gem. After the stones dried, each nurse was encouraged to carry it in their pocket as a reminder of the power they have in creating a therapeutic environment using love and showing kindness. 





Patient Artwork on 4th Floor of the Heart Hospital

Positioned above is the framed art work of a patient admitted for treatment to the Heart Hospital at Baptist Medical Center in downtown Jacksonville. During his convalescence, nurse Jamie Chiles offered him an opportunity to participate in an  art intervention at the bedside. This project was suggested  to ease some of his anxiety regarding his cardiac status. Jamie gave him watercolor crayons and watercolor paper. The blending of colors using a wet technique proved to be very soothing to the patient and awakened a desire to create more art when discharged home. Jamie became the recipient of the art piece, she had it framed and it is now on display in the Caring Room on her floor for all to enjoy. Keep up the good work!

Monday, January 9, 2012

Creativity in Full Bloom

Angela Fontaine, RN, BSN and her team created a beautiful Garden
Retreat at Baptist Medical Center Nassau.




Angela saw potential in an outside area which needed some tender loving
care. Along with her group of volunteers she created a work of art for
all to enjoy.  Thank you Angela, you have created a great place to
center your thoughts and regroup. 




Tuesday, October 4, 2011

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.



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.

Thursday, September 29, 2011

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.  

Wednesday, July 20, 2011

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!