NURS 314

It took me a while to decide how to represent my nursing theory, but I decided to paint terrariums (as shown on the left).
Traditional terrariums are artificial, self-sustaining ecosystems often kept in closed-class jars—the plants and soil release water vapor, which collects and is redistributed in the soil.
The background of the canvas is made up of different watercolor paint colors. The background represents how every patient and nurse has a unique background. Each terrarium’s background helps illustrate the overall picture, just like a person’s background affects daily decisions and interactions.
I decided to get creative with the shape and content of the terrariums to display patient diversity. Unorthodox containers, such as the tea bag and soda-can represent patients with some form of disability or deformity visible to the public (e.g., Cerebral Palsy, Dwarfism, & Paralysis). Terrariums that contain uncommon materials, such as the koi fish pond in the soda, can represent mental illness. Mental illness is a growing issue in the United States, and although it is not visible, it dramatically impacts a person’s daily life.

Terrariums are self-sufficient after construction, but maintenance is sometimes needed to ensure the ecosystem thrives. Patient health is similar. Nurses provide support and education to patients, expecting the patient to incorporate the information into their daily lives. Some of the terrariums pictured are open, so they need someone to provide them with water. Similarly, some patients will need more assistance maintaining their health than others.
Just like each terrarium is different and has different care needs, the nurse and patient relationship is unique with every encounter, and every patient deserves care that is specific to their requirements.