Analysis and personal reflection of Wit movie.

The story ‘Wit’ is about a 48 yr old professor Vivian Bearing who thought 17th century poetry was diagnosed with advanced ovarian cancer. Vivian agreed to an aggressive and experimental form of chemotherapy administered by Dr. Kelekian (the head doctor) and his assistant Jason. Throughout the story she reflected back on the cycle the cancer has on her health, significant events in her life and her work. The people who watched over her were Jason (a former student) and Susie Monahan (her primary nurse); however Susie was the only one who showed some human side during her care. Throughout the movie Dr. Kelekian showed his insensitive side despite, what he found more appealing was the rigorous debilitating chemotherapy that was being administered for his experiment. The physicians showed no objections to their blatant disregard for the patient’s well being. Susie who tried to be her patient’s advocate found herself in constant conflict with the doctors who were only more interested in pushing the aggressive chemotherapy.

The film portrayed the relationship between the relation and the health care providers as being cold and insensitive to the patient needs. Dr Kelekian with his team would walked in the Vivian’s room without a giving a warm introduction, no questions were asked that allowed the patient an opportunity to answer based on the way she really felt. There seemed to be no communication as to the progress of her care after she consented to undergo an aggressive 8 months of cancer treatment. She was now treated as an experimental guinea pig and not like a human with feelings. This was evident after having a pelvic exam done by one of her former student, during this time there was no form of communication. Vivian expressed how degrading it was to wear a gown all day and having to endure the agony of a colonoscopy. Vivian made the comment after her pelvic exam “one thing that can be said about going through eight months of cancer treatment, “I am learning to suffer”. It was obvious that this was not only a difficult process it was also a very lonely one, she expressed feeling degraded. It also obvious the care rendered is not ‘patient centered.

very little respect were being shown during ‘grand rounds’, the doctor spoke over the patient while they all palpated her abdomen, without communicating directly with her about her care at any point. She wandered “I want to know what the doctors mean when they anatomized me”. Nursing plays a significant role in patient care; as a matter of fact Mohahan (her nurse) was the only one who occasionally advocated for her patient. The patient was forced to leave for an ultrasound even though, she expressed not wanting to go now, only to wait for the ultrasound tech to leave for his break and returned before performing the test.

The moment Vivian began to ask question about her apprehension, she would then be assessed for confusion by Md. Jason and even then her concerns were totally dismissed. Susie Mohahan was the one who first had the conversation with her about DNR/DNI, so that the patient had a chance to choose, even with her DNR in place, she was still coded, Susie was ignored while trying to stop the code. Susie seemed to be so in tune with her patient that she knew the reason why the bell was being rang before the patient could say why she called. Even thought she was the only supportive one there, I felt like she could have been a little bit more vocal during the time that the patient’s needs weren’t being met by the doctors.

It is very important for nurses to deliver patient centered care by communicated with the patient, also treat the patients with dignity and respect, address their needs and acknowledge their preference if and whenever possible. We can make changes to our practice by first changing our attitudes or stop our stereotyping other; we get to know more about people by talking with them and especially listening to them. Our nursing practice states that we treat with compassion and respect, for the inherent dignity worth and unique attributes of every person. The primary commitment is the patient, the nurse promotes advocacy, has authority, accountability and responsibility for nursing practice. The nurses owe the same duties to self as to others.