Nursing Tapestry by Paige Evans

Reproductive Influence Art

paigeevans6 — 2025-03-12 18:45:40 UTC

I designed this piece to reflect my own experiences around reproduction and experiences common among those with uteruses or a female presenting identity. I wanted to include as quotes, cases, and other factors influencing how and when someone chooses to reproduce.

Dark History of IUDs

paigeevans6 — 2025-03-17 03:31:49 UTC

This image shows various models of IUDs including the infamous Dalkon Sheild. Early IUDs were tested on women of minority groups and often in developing countries. The complications of the early IUDs, including the Dalkon Sheild, often including perforation, infection, bleeding and sometimes becoming embedded in the uterine tissue which then had to be surgically removed (Intrauterine Device (IUD) - Dittrick Medical History Center, n.d.). The testing of these IUDs in underfunded countries lead to thousands of women becoming infertile or enduring extreme complications with little to no healthcare interventions.

My Bed

paigeevans6 — 2025-03-17 03:46:18 UTC

This piece was based on Tracey Emin's own struggle with mental health. She spent four days in bed struggling with her own depression, she shares her vulnerability to spread awareness. This piece spoke to me as showing human resilience, the artist described that while setting up the art in various places she feels as if she's looking into a time capsule of her own depression but almost separate from it as her life is so incredibly different now (The Enduring Connection Between Art and Mental Health | Art UK, n.d.).

Lady Gaga addresses rumours about her gender identity profanity

paigeevans6 — 2025-03-17 03:55:23 UTC

For a long time Lady Gaga has been outspoken on her support of LGBTQ+ individuals. During an interview, she was questioned about her identity and gave the above response. I chose to enter this clip for a few reasons, a moment of challenge against societal gender norms, establishing that gender or sex are only the business of the individual and because this was said by someone with such a large platform. Many LGBTQ+ people are asked invasive questions about their identity and body, Lady Gaga was truly one of the first people on a large stage to basically say "why does it matter?".

Untitled (Portrait of Ross in L.A.)

paigeevans6 — 2025-03-18 21:27:10 UTC

This piece was first introduced to me by a dear friend of mine from my first diploma. She was putting together an art gallery mock-up and I was asking her questions and she taught me about this piece. The artist's name is Felix Gonzalez-Torres and he created this piece to reflect his experience of watching his partner die of AIDS. The candy weighs 175 lbs and those who observe the piece are meant to take a piece of candy and over time, this mirrors the feeling of loss that Gonzalez-Torres endured while caring for his partner and the way in which he watched his partner wither away due to weight loss associated with AIDS. I have always remembered this piece and it reminds me every day of the discrimination of LGBTQ+ people during the AIDS crisis and continues today. This piece was what began my interest in sexual health, LGTBQ+ rights, and health as well as my vigilance for how we can stop discrimination for LGTBQ+ individuals, especially in healthcare settings.

Art Celebrates Breastfeeding Mothers and Challenges False Idols

paigeevans6 — 2025-03-18 21:42:42 UTC

This painting by Jody Parmann seeks to challenge ideas of breastfeeding. The painting is not a religious one, using imagery of Mary purely because of her recognizability as a mother. Parmann explains that the painting is meant to remind people there was a time when ideas of decency or sexualization didn't affect the context of breastfeeding. The breast is meant for nutrition and breastfeeding is a natural act between mother and child. The painting also acts as a beacon of safety, Parmann has a cafe in which this painting is displayed in an effort to communicate with mothers that the space is safe and they are welcome to breastfeed. I think this is so important as many mothers feel they must hide their breastfeeding, often because of how those around them react but also because deeply engrained ideas that it is indecent or inappropriate to feed a child publically. These ideas are unfortunately all too common but Parmann made a piece to challenge these patriarchal ideas and create a safe and welcoming space for breastfeeding.

A Colourful Mind

paigeevans6 — 2025-03-18 22:17:40 UTC

The artist who created this used Haudenosaunee beadwork to show connections between education, healthcare and the fluidity of gender and sexuality. The artist chose to use the colours of the pride flag. The technique of blending the bead colours into each other represents that as more is learned about gender and sexuality, the more it is seen that these concepts are fluid. This artwork is an excellent representation of how culture, mental health, gender and sexuality all intersect. (The Healing Power of Art: Indigenous Artists Bring to Life Indigenous Healthcare Education Resource, n.d.)

Encircle the Tree

paigeevans6 — 2025-03-18 22:28:48 UTC

This painting represents the delicate balance of systems. The artists wanted to represent that Indigenous health is connected to every system, when one system or aspect is out of balance then all are affected. Lindsay Brant wants to stress the importance that physical aspects are not the only things to treat, it is important to address mind, spirit and heart (The Healing Power of Art: Indigenous Artists Bring to Life Indigenous Healthcare Education Resource, n.d.). I wanted to include this piece because it echoes, things we have learned especially the importance of holistic care but it also emphasizes the importance of Indigenous holistic healthcare.

Decolonizing health in Canada: A Manitoba first nation perspective

paigeevans6 — 2025-03-19 15:40:27 UTC

I chose this literature because of its respect for those who participated but also for their thorough look into decolonizing healthcare. Across 8 First Nations and 183 interviews they discovered that there were 4 prevalent themes, "1) First Nation control of healthcare; 2) traditional medicine and healing activities; 3) full and meaningful community participation; and 4) cleaning up the impacts of colonization" (Eni et al., 2021). Much of what they found are sentiments which I have heard from my Indigenous friends when discussing the topic as well as guest lectures about Indigenous health in other courses. This research and the learnings I've received from friends align very closely and have made me more aware of practicing nursing in a way that creates safe spaces and trust between the Indigenous population I will care for and myself as a clinician.

Labour

paigeevans6 — 2025-03-19 16:51:49 UTC

This song has become a symbol of protest, used all over social media to protest for women rights and especially reproductive healthcare and rights. Paris Paloma says that she wants people to feel that their feelings and reactions to misogyny are justified (Mylrea, 2023). The song was released in 2023, the year after Roe v. Wade was overturned. The song was released at an important time for women's rights and still is used for protests, for me this song has become a beacon of community and resistance against the systems that repress them.

How to Save a Life

paigeevans6 — 2025-03-20 00:51:50 UTC

I chose this song because it has always resonated with me. The song has many concepts but it is generally about the experience of loving a friend with an addiction and desperately trying to help them while they struggle between choosing between overcoming addiction or letting it overcome them (Arochas, 2024). The song is recognizable, and its not hard to hear the messages about struggles with mental health and the toll that addiction takes.

Perceived pressure to breastfeed negatively impacts postpartum mental health outcomes over time

paigeevans6 — 2025-03-20 01:04:12 UTC

I always held that breast is best, but not at the expense of the mother. Some women are unable to breastfeed or struggle with feeding for any number of reasons and the constant "breast is best" has made many women in my own family feel as though they are inadequate or failing as parents. I found this study that found that perceived pressure increases anxiety, stress and birth trauma symptoms up to a month after birth and many mothers felt like breastfeeding determined their success as a mom as well as felt like they had a lack of choice and autonomy in feeding their babies (Grattan et al., 2024). The researchers pose that "we may be doing more harm than good" (Grattan et al., 2024), and that interventions should focus on promoting good maternal mental health as well as breastfeeding. (Grattan et al., 2024).

At the intersection of climate justice and reproductive justice.

paigeevans6 — 2025-03-20 02:52:02 UTC

This article explores how climate and reproductive justice intersect. At first I was skeptical of how this would link together but after reading the research, I get it. The impacts of climate change has disproportionately affecting people of colour as these effects are often seen more severely in low-income, tropical countries. The damage caused by these storms exposes social, gender and racial inequities that are already heavily present in societies. A specific example provided by the researcher is that air pollution contributes to poor birth outcomes such as low birth weight, this issue disproportionately affects people of colour due to a concept referred to as 'environmental racism' (Sasser, 2023).

The impact of hostile abortion legislation on the United States maternal mortality crisis: a call for increased abortion education

paigeevans6 — 2025-03-20 22:15:21 UTC

I chose this article because it's important literature to understand the impacts of restrictive abortion legislation, whether you believe in abortion or not, restricting access will be the reason people die. The legislation ties the hands of physicians and make it hard to determine when an abortion is legal or illegal, making it all the more likely that incomplete miscarriages will cause life-threatening infections and sepsis. This article specifically discusses that future physicians are not being trained on abortion procedures, they propose that practitioners should be placed in states without abortion training restrictions as restrictive states will "undoubtedly impose limits on education related to miscarriages and other OBGYN health issues" (Kheyfets et al., 2023).

New Mothers’ Perceptions of Pressure to Breastfeed

paigeevans6 — 2025-03-20 23:09:23 UTC

I wanted to include research that focused on the maternal perspective, after all who better to talk about the experiences of breastfeeding pressure than the people who breastfeed and often feel pressured by society. This article is a quantitative study, and found that most of the women in the study felt society was the one of the most prevalent sources of pressure and the majority of the women also said they felt lactation support provider was a pressure source, 82% of the women also said that "they, themselves were a source of at least some or a lot of pressure" (Korth et al., 2022). As the other article discussed a mother's perceived pressure can lead to poor outcomes for maternal mental health for an extended time after birth (Grattan et al., 2024), the current study identified specific sources of pressures, this would allow practitioners to identify specific stressors and address them to prevent further stress on postpartum parents.

Baby's Graditude

paigeevans6 — 2025-03-21 01:57:30 UTC

This photo was taken by a mother who faced many breastfeeding challenges, at first it was a tongue tie that prevented the baby from latching and then she got severe mastitis and felt overwhelmed, she wanted to quit. Eventually she was able to breastfeed and this picture was taken while feeding and the mom talked about how she could feel her son's gratitude for not giving up breastfeeding (Breastfeeding Art Expo et al., 2018).

I chose this piece because even though there are many barriers, challenges and pressures that mothers face in their breastfeeding journey, with the proper care and support, it can be overcome.

Niagara Health Indigenous Art for Outpatient Mental Health Units

paigeevans6 — 2025-03-21 16:51:29 UTC

These art pieces are were made by Alicia-Lynn Morin, a self-taught Indigenous artist from the Niagara area. Robin Crown is a clinical manager with Niagara Health said that the "artworks remind us to value both perspectives and the connections that ground us" (Niagara Health Unveils Indigenous Art Pieces for Outpatient Mental Health Units, 2024). I chose to include this art piece because of what it represents, mental health runs deeper than traditional colonial lenses allow us to address. Often mental health care is delivered in a setting that feels clinical to those who experience it, art can help diffuse that feeling and including art that displays a variety of cultural values contributes to a safe space for many.

Decolonizing Health Care: Reconciliation Roles and Responsibilities for White Settlers

paigeevans6 — 2025-03-21 17:16:06 UTC

This research is laying out guidelines for settlers to engage in decolonizing the healthcare system. McGibbon outlines that white settler privilege is shown in the biomedical focus of health and wellness and suppressing the traditions related to Indigenous healing, McGibbon poses that "[d]colonizing involves actively seeking knowledge about postcolonial ideas and imperatives" (2018). The process of decolonizing is often uncomfortable for those who still hold colonial ideas even if they are unaware. It is vital that white settlers work toward reconciliation, for the safety of all and especially in healthcare. Reconciliation is vital for patient safety, physical, mental and spiritual safety.

People Living with HIV and AIDS: Experiences towards Antiretroviral Therapy, Paradigm Changes, Coping, Stigma, and Discrimination—A Grounded Theory Study

paigeevans6 — 2025-03-21 17:59:51 UTC

Discrimination is rampant in those who identify as LGBTQ+, far too common of an experience. This study examines how discrimination affects treatment adherence of those who have HIV, they found that the disease itself is not the most stressful, the most stress is caused by coping with the diagnosis (Beichler et al., 2023). The study concluded that reducing the stigma and discrimination around HIV is necessary for reducing its prevalence and more research is needed develop interventions for the stigma (Beichler et al., 2023). The AIDS crisis is a dark stain on human history, many LGBTQ+ individuals still feel its effects today, many lost loved ones. The fear of the condition resulted in slow development for treatments and care was mostly comfort based, today it is very possible to live a long life with the use of antiretroviral medications. The treatment of HIV carriers during the early days of the disease was atrocious and inhumane, I remember what people went through to remind me of what kind of practitioner I will never be.

Maybe they had a bad day: how LGBTQ and BIPOC patients react to bias in healthcare and struggle to speak out

paigeevans6 — 2025-03-21 18:31:56 UTC

This article outlines the issue of discrimination as a barrier to effective patient-provider communication and seeks the fill the research gap on lived experiences of marginalized groups in healthcare. They found that BIPOC and LGBTQ+ individuals struggle to cope and speak out, the researchers identify 3 paths for intervention, improve provider behaviour, support patient advocacy, and address power dynamics in healthcare (Apodaca et al., 2022). This research is important, especially in today's sociopolitical climate where LGBTQ+ rights are under attack, the one place people need to feel safe is in healthcare.

References

paigeevans6 — 2025-03-21 18:35:09 UTC

Intrauterine device (IUD) - Dittrick Medical History Center. (n.d.). Dittrick Medical History Center. https://artsci.case.edu/dittrick/online-exhibits/history-of-birth-control/contraception-in-america-1950-present-day/intrauterine-device-iud/

Kheyfets, A., Dhaurali, S., Feyock, P., Khan, F., Lockley, A., Miller, B., & Amutah-Onukagha, N. (2023). The impact of hostile abortion legislation on the United States maternal mortality crisis: a call for increased abortion education. Frontiers in public health, 11, 1291668. https://doi.org/10.3389/fpubh.2023.1291668

Mylrea, H. (2023, May 31). Paris Paloma: “When people listen to ‘Labour’, I want them to feel like their anger is valid” NME. https://www.nme.com/features/music-interviews/paris-paloma-artist-labour-song-interview-tiktok-radar-3449655

Paris Paloma. (2023, March 23). Paris Paloma - labour [Official Video] [Video]. YouTube. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jvU4xWsN7-A

Sasser, J. S. (2023). At the intersection of climate justice and reproductive justice. Wiley Interdisciplinary Reviews Climate Change, 15(1). https://doi.org/10.1002/wcc.860

References

paigeevans6 — 2025-03-21 18:36:12 UTC

Eni, R., Phillips-Beck, W., Achan, G. K., Lavoie, J. G., Kinew, K. A., & Katz, A. (2021). Decolonizing health in Canada: A Manitoba first nation perspective. International Journal for Equity in Health, 20(1). https://doi.org/10.1186/s12939-021-01539-7

Niagara Health unveils Indigenous art pieces for Outpatient Mental Health Units - Niagara Health News, Updates & Publications. (2024, December 17). https://www.niagarahealth.on.ca/site/news/2024/12/17/niagara-health-unveils-indigenous-art-pieces-for-outpatient-mental-health-units

McGibbon, E. (2018). Decolonizing health care: Reconciliation roles and responsibilities for white settlers. Critical Studies an International and Interdisciplinary Journal, 13(2), 18–52. https://doi.org/10.51357/cs.v13i2.127

The healing power of art: Indigenous artists bring to life Indigenous healthcare education resource. (n.d.). Faculty of Health Sciences | Queen’s University. https://healthsci.queensu.ca/stories/feature/healing-power-art-indigenous-artists-bring-life-indigenous-healthcare-education

References

paigeevans6 — 2025-03-21 18:37:26 UTC

Breastfeeding Art Expo, Graham, K., Kelowna Community Resources, Interior Health, IH Breastfeeding Advisory Council, Deegan, H., & Hunter, K. (2018). Breastfeeding Art Expo catalogue. https://breastfeedingartexpo.ca/wp-content/uploads/resources/BFAE-ArtCatalogue-P1.pdf

Grattan, R. E., London, S. M., & Bueno, G. E. (2024). Perceived pressure to breastfeed negatively impacts postpartum mental health outcomes over time. Frontiers in public health, 12, 1357965. https://doi.org/10.3389/fpubh.2024.1357965

Korth, C. X., Keim, S. A., Crerand, C. E., & Jackson, J. L. (2022). New Mothers' Perceptions of Pressure to Breastfeed. MCN. The American journal of maternal child nursing, 47(3), 160–167. https://doi.org/10.1097/NMC.0000000000000814

Parmann, J. (2017, July 12). Art celebrates breastfeeding mothers and challenges false idols. https://ravencafeph.com/2015/06/11/new-art-nature-by-jody-parmann/

References

paigeevans6 — 2025-03-21 18:38:52 UTC

Apodaca, C., Casanova-Perez, R., Bascom, E., Mohanraj, D., Lane, C., Vidyarthi, D., Beneteau, E., Sabin, J., Pratt, W., Weibel, N., & Hartzler, A. L. (2022). Maybe they had a bad day: how LGBTQ and BIPOC patients react to bias in healthcare and struggle to speak out. Journal of the American Medical Informatics Association, 29(12), 2075–2082. https://doi.org/10.1093/jamia/ocac142

Beichler, H., Kutalek, R., & Dorner, T. E. (2023). People Living with HIV and AIDS: Experiences towards Antiretroviral Therapy, Paradigm Changes, Coping, Stigma, and Discrimination—A Grounded Theory Study. International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health, 20(4), 3000. https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph20043000

Gaga Daily. (2022, June 23). Lady Gaga’s best response ever [Video]. YouTube. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=S6n3pDF41QE

Gonzalez-Torres, F. (n.d.). “Untitled” (Portrait of Ross in L.A.) | The Art Institute of Chicago. The Art Institute of Chicago. https://www.artic.edu/artworks/152961/untitled-portrait-of-ross-in-l-a

A blind spot in mental healthcare? Psychotherapists lack education and expertise for the support of adults on the autism spectrum

paigeevans6 — 2025-03-22 00:37:19 UTC

Most adults with autism experience mental health struggles, however, most psychotherapists do not have the knowledge or expertise to treat people who have mental health implications as well as autism (Lipinski et al., 2021). This leaves a large group of people who don't have access to mental health services and care. The study discovered and established this gap, many of the psychotherapists that participated were interested in expanding their knowledge in order to treat those who have autism and mental health disorders (Lipinski et al., 2021). I included this paper because of an experience in my mental health placement with a patient who had both autism and mental health disorders, communication was strained and interactions between practitioners and patient were stiff and not very effective. Expanding the knowledge of practitioners is important to be able to treat a wide variety of patients.

‘You’re on the waiting list’: An interpretive phenomenological analysis of young adults’ experiences of waiting lists within mental health services in the UK

paigeevans6 — 2025-03-22 01:02:07 UTC

There are countless youth on waiting lists for mental health services in the UK. This study uncovered that this extensive waiting is leading to negative outcomes, exacerbating physical and psychological health issues, many patients feel that these waiting lists are barriers to care (Punton et al., 2022). This research is vital to understanding the dangers of waitlists for mental healthcare, I included this article because I've seen similar circumstances in Canada. I have a very dear person in my life who has struggled to gain access to mental healthcare, and many more patients who if they had received care earlier they may not have ended up in the hospital.

Intro-cast

paigeevans6 — 2025-03-22 04:05:47 UTC

Quick snippet of what we will be covering!

References

paigeevans6 — 2025-03-22 04:08:44 UTC

Arochas, K. (2024, April 19). “How to Save a Life” by The Fray: The story behind the song - The YU Observer. The YU Observer. https://yuobserver.org/2024/04/how-to-save-a-life-by-the-fray-the-story-behind-the-song/

Lipinski, S., Boegl, K., Blanke, E. S., Suenkel, U., & Dziobek, I. (2021). A blind spot in mental healthcare? Psychotherapists lack education and expertise for the support of adults on the autism spectrum. Autism, 26(6), 1509–1521. https://doi.org/10.1177/13623613211057973

Punton, G., Dodd, A. L., & McNeill, A. (2022). ‘You’re on the waiting list’: An interpretive phenomenological analysis of young adults’ experiences of waiting lists within mental health services in the UK. PLoS ONE, 17(3), e0265542. https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0265542

The enduring connection between art and mental health | Art UK. (n.d.). https://artuk.org/discover/stories/the-enduring-connection-between-art-and-mental-health

Let's Talk Justice.

paigeevans6 — 2025-03-22 04:18:19 UTC

Decoloninizing and Discomfort

paigeevans6 — 2025-03-22 14:38:50 UTC

Gaps in Mental Healthcare

paigeevans6 — 2025-03-22 14:49:18 UTC

Breastfeeding: Important but Stressful

paigeevans6 — 2025-03-23 04:12:25 UTC

LGBTQ+ Health and History: We Need to Know

paigeevans6 — 2025-03-23 05:06:04 UTC

Nursing Tapestry by Paige Evans

Reproductive Influence Art

Dark History of IUDs

My Bed

Lady Gaga addresses rumours about her gender identity *profanity*

Untitled (Portrait of Ross in L.A.)

Art Celebrates Breastfeeding Mothers and Challenges False Idols

A Colourful Mind

Encircle the Tree

Decolonizing health in Canada: A Manitoba first nation perspective

Labour

How to Save a Life

Perceived pressure to breastfeed negatively impacts postpartum mental health outcomes over time

At the intersection of climate justice and reproductive justice.

The impact of hostile abortion legislation on the United States maternal mortality crisis: a call for increased abortion education

New Mothers’ Perceptions of Pressure to Breastfeed

Baby's Graditude

Niagara Health Indigenous Art for Outpatient Mental Health Units

Decolonizing Health Care: Reconciliation Roles and Responsibilities for White Settlers

People Living with HIV and AIDS: Experiences towards Antiretroviral Therapy, Paradigm Changes, Coping, Stigma, and Discrimination—A Grounded Theory Study

Maybe they had a bad day: how LGBTQ and BIPOC patients react to bias in healthcare and struggle to speak out

References

References

References

References

A blind spot in mental healthcare? Psychotherapists lack education and expertise for the support of adults on the autism spectrum

‘You’re on the waiting list’: An interpretive phenomenological analysis of young adults’ experiences of waiting lists within mental health services in the UK

Intro-cast

References

Let's Talk Justice.

Decoloninizing and Discomfort

Gaps in Mental Healthcare

Breastfeeding: Important but Stressful

LGBTQ+ Health and History: We Need to Know

Lady Gaga addresses rumours about her gender identity profanity