This Nurse Turned Medical Waste Into Artwork That Brings Cancer Patients Hope
- A Michigan oncology nurse created an art installation using more than 7,000 discarded medication caps to reflect the cancer journey and patient resilience.
- The artwork is displayed inside a cancer treatment center to support patient comfort and emotional wellbeing.
- Research shows visual art in healthcare environments can help reduce patient stress and anxiety.
- The project also highlights sustainability by repurposing medical waste into a meaningful visual display.
Amber Jackson, a registered nurse at Munson Healthcare’s Cancer and Infusion Center in Cadillac, Michigan, has created a large-scale art display using more than 7,000 discarded medication caps. The piece, titled Rise, repurposes medical waste into a visual display intended to reflect the cancer journey and the emotional and physical changes patients experience during treatment.
Jackson, who works directly with oncology patients, said the artwork was inspired by what she observes in her patients each day. She described the project as a way to represent how life changes during and after cancer treatment and how those experiences affect both patients and the caregivers who support them.
Rise is displayed in the Cancer and Infusion Center where patients can see it as they enter the facility. The installation was designed to provide a welcoming and supportive visual element in a space where many patients are coping with serious illness.
Image Source: WPBN/WGTU
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The Role of Art in Healthcare Settings
Research has shown that visual environments can influence patient experience in healthcare facilities. A 2021 study published in the Journal of Environmental Psychology found that artwork in clinical spaces was associated with lower levels of stress and anxiety among patients. Facilities across the country have increasingly incorporated visual art into treatment areas as part of efforts to support patient comfort and emotional wellbeing.
Jackson’s project also highlights sustainability in healthcare. Hospitals generate large volumes of waste each day, including plastic items used in medication administration. Practice Greenhealth estimates that hospitals produce approximately 29 pounds of waste per staffed bed per day. By repurposing medication caps, Rise reflects an approach to reuse materials that would otherwise be discarded.
Connecting Nursing Practice and Creative Work
Creative projects are one way nurses express the emotional impact of their work. Many nurses report experiencing compassion satisfaction, which refers to the sense of fulfillment that comes from helping others through difficult situations. For oncology nurses in particular, the treatment environment plays an important role in patient experience.
Oncology research and practice reports indicate that the physical treatment environment significantly affects cancer patients’ mood and overall experience during treatment.
Jackson’s artwork highlights how nurses can contribute to patient care in ways that extend beyond clinical treatment. By using materials from the care environment to create a visual display inside the cancer center, her project reflects the connection between healthcare, healing, and the patient experience. As healthcare facilities continue to explore ways to support both patients and staff, initiatives like this show how creativity can play a role in building more supportive care environments.
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