Symbolically, this piece portrays the nurse as a juggler, holding the aorta, which carries the life-blood of the patient and their family in her hands. The family is symbolized by the house and the family group. The watchdogs of medicine observe from above and below. A nurse's career is symbolized by a path that is attached to the life-blood of the family artery. Enveloping and sheltering arms wrap around the family group and include the careful observation of the watching heads. This piece expresses commitment, caring and often frustrating responsibility as the nurse faces deadlines, personnel shortages and funding cutbacks while administering her duties. She must use her talents to hold everything together and strengthen the patient as well as the patient's family. The nurse must be the conduit between medical interventions and direct patient care. Her career, indeed her calling, must be stronger than the negatives of death and disease as she struggles to keep a balance between a healthy attitude and an obsession about her life work. The poem is written about the artwork and the interpretation of the symbolism found therein. The combination of the two creative expressions about teh same theme is a powerful statement. Each individual might interpret the artwork a little differently, but the underlying emotion is universal.
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