A vibrant new piece of art is hanging in a La Peer HealthlSystems outpatient surgery center in Beverly Hills, Calif., created by one of the center’s own nurses to spread positivity.
With the help of the center’s anesthesiologists, nurse Stacie Defilio spent almost two years collecting 4,000 medication bottle caps that she fashioned into a mosaic reading, “La Peer,” an idea inspired by another oncology nurse on Pinterest.
The colorful artwork hangs in the center’s pre-operating room, where Defilio hopes it will give patients and co-workers some color and positivity. Many of the caps have handwritten words or phrases that she chose to symbolize nursing, patient care, medicine and La Peer, with messages including “Health,” “Hugs” and “Keep calm and nurse on.”
“Whether they are there for a minor procedure or something more extensive, surgery can be scary for many people,” Defilio said. “I love seeing patients happy and comfortable, and I think portraying that through art reaches people on a different level.”
Defilio’s project inspired some co-workers and friends to start their own projects. A second cap creation already hangs in the same pre-operating room, created by one of the orthopedic surgeons and his daughter.
“We do our best as medical professionals to ease concerns and give (patients) some comfort during a difficult time,” Defilio said. “I would hope the sign shows them that I care about where I work and that I care about my patients.”
