From the Lens of Another This paper will critically analyze the personal experience of Professor Vivian Bearing, a character from the film “Wit” (Bosanquet & Nichols, 2001), from a theoretical and empirical perspective. This writer will explore various methods of verbal and nonverbal communication. Empathy, as the dominant relational concept, and how it impacts a therapeutic relationship between healthcare provider and patient will be examined. Three Registered Nursing Association of Ontario (RNAO) best practice guidelines will be selected, and their relevance to the experience explained, with the support of scholarly nursing literature. Finally, three ways to improve patient care will be identified with rationale to support this writer’s …show more content…
BACK THIS PART UP WITH FACTS. Dr. Jason Posner, a former student of Professor Bearing, presents as an enthusiastic doctor, driven by his passion for his cancer research. Dr. Posner speaks about his patient as though she is nothing more than an interesting medical case, showing little to no interest of her emotional and psychological wellbeing. In a study on the qualities of a compassionate nurse, Kret (2011) found, “A better understanding of the patient must be reached in order for the nurse to care for the patient in an effective, meaningful way”. Jason’s lack of interest and empathy toward Vivian as a human being greatly affects his ability to foster a therapeutic relationship. Dr. Posner often chats excitedly with his colleagues about Professor Bearing’s medical condition and progress, without speaking to her directly; with the exception of the obligatory “How are you feeling today, Professor Bearing?” (Bosanquet & Nichols, 2001) a question often muttered in passing. Dr. Posner pays no attention to the tone of Vivian’s universal, and often pained response, “Fine.” (Bosanquet & Nichols, 2001). By being unable to identify with his patient and share her experience, Dr. Posner is lacking the key components of empathy. This lack of empathy is impeding the development of a therapeutic relationship between …show more content…
Posner and Dr. Kelekian swiftly agree that she will maintain the “full dose” (Bosanquet & Nichols, 2001), and insist that she is “tough” (Bosanquet & Nichols, 2001). Though Professor Bearing does not dispute the full dose, it is unclear if this is her actual preference. By making this assumption, Dr. Posner and Kelekian are denying Vivian the opportunity to participate in her care, and in the decision making process. In a study by Heffines et al., (2013) it was discovered that increasing patient participation in the decisions that affect their health care greatly increases patient satisfaction, and contributes to an overall more positive
Kirk, T. W. (2007). Beyond empathy: clinical intimacy in nursing practice. Nursing Philosophy, 8(4), 233-243. doi:10.1111/j.1466-769X.2007.00318.x
The movie “ Wit “ is a heart-breaking story about a middle-aged woman named Vivian Bearing who has been diagnosed with metastasized stage four ovarian cancer. She agrees to a vigorous “ full dose” experimental treatment of chemotherapy where she is treated less like a human but more like a guinea pig by her oncologist Doctor Kelekian and her former student Doctor Jason. She experiences harsh side effects from the chemotherapy that causes her to reflect upon her life through flashbacks. The flashbacks travel to various periods of her such as her childhood, graduate school and professional career, prior to her cancer diagnosis, where she comes to a realization that she too could have been more kind to individuals.
84). Seven assumptions are the foundation for the Theory of Transpersonal Caring. The first assumption states that the nurse has the moral commitment to protect and enhance the human dignity of the patient. Second, caring is respecting the subjective and spiritual needs of the patient during times of despair, honoring “an I-Thou Relationship rather than an I-It Relationship”(Alligood, 2014, p. 84). For example, honoring his or her needs, routines, or rituals. The theory’s third assumption states that effective caring is accomplished by establishing human connection. The nurse must seek to connect with the inner spirit of another by being present in the moment. The fourth assumption discusses the importance of honoring the wholeness of the person. Watson’s fifth assumption is about finding one’s inner harmony. “The nurse helps another through this process to access the healer within” (Alligood, 2014, p. 85). Assumption six focuses on the practice of caring. Continued growth in physical and mental well-being are essential to advance nursing practice. The nurse’s personal history and knowledge gained from worldly experiences shapes the way he/she may practice. Lastly, the seventh assumption states that the practice of caring is ongoing, and a central part to both nursing and Jean Watson’s Theory of Caring (Alligood,
Watson proposed that caring and love are universal and mysterious “cosmic forces” that comprise the original and psychic energy. Watson believes that health professionals make social, moral, and scientific contributions to humankind and that nurses’ caring model can affect human development (McEwen & Wills, 2011. Pp. 183). Developing a transpersonal caring relationship with the client is the core of Watson’s human care theory in which both the client and the nurse have high reciprocal value for the person and their being in the world. This relationship is a spiritual unification between two individuals whereby they surpass self, time, space and the life history of each other. This completeness empowers both the client and nurse to enter the remarkable field of the other (McEwen & Wills, 2011. Pp.
Therapeutic relationships are an essential part of nursing; they are the foundation of nursing (CNO, 2009). The National Competency Standard for Registered Nurses states that nurses are responsible for “establishing, sustaining and concluding professional relationships with individuals/groups.” Throughout this essay, the importance of forming therapeutic relationships will be explained. The process of building a therapeutic relationship begins prior to time of contact with a patient, the interpersonal skills of the nurse; then the process includes skills required by the nurse to communicate effectively, including respect, trust, non-judgment and empathy. The way to portray these skills can be via verbal or non-verbal cues that are important to understand how they influence a person.
A therapeutic nurse-patient relationship is outlined as a helping relationship grounded on shared respect, trust, the encouragement of having faith and hope in oneself and others, and emotional support (Pullen et al., 2010). In doing so, the nurse can establish complete satisfaction of the patients needs, whether it be physical, emotional or spiritual. This relationship produces when the patient and the nurse come together in harmony and peace (Pullen et al., 2010). Efficient verbal and nonverbal communication is an essential aspect of interaction between nurse and patient – in doing this, the patient feels on par with the nurse, as an equal, rather than having no indication of what procedures are taking place (Pullen et al., 2010).
Upon the first point of contact between a nurse and patient, the way a nurse communicates through words, gestures or facial expressions can affect the patient's perception of the nurse. Communicating professionally helps to portray the nurse in a good light. This is important as having a positive perception of the nurse's image and behaviour is crucial to building patient trust — one of the key elements of a therapeutic nurse-patient relationship (Bell & Duffy, 2009; Wadell & Skarsater, 2007). The need for the establishment of therapeutic relationship is supported by th...
Empathy is not the ability to ask what is wanted, it is the chance of understanding what may be needed. In Margaret Edson’s “Wit,” Vivian Bearing is faced with the life-threatening illness of ovarian cancer. Throughout her battle, she encounters Jason Posner and Susie Monahan, characters tasked with caring for her during her illness. Undeniably as Vivian’s health deteriorates, Jason and Susie are affected. Through various scenes and interactions, these characters reveal how they empathize with one another. Empathy requires them to not only step outside of their comfort zone, but also view the world in a different light thanks to Vivian.
Wit sheds light on the problems within the American healthcare system regarding patient care and making decisions based on the well being of the patient, and not focusing on the scientific developments that can be made by studying the effects of certain drugs and illnesses on patients - this is done through the interactions between Vivian and her two doctors: Dr. Kelekian and Dr. Jason Posner, as well as interactions between Vivian and her nurse, Susie.
Literature Critique This literature critique reviews Catherine McCabe’s article, Nurse-patient communication: an exploration of patients’ experiences (McCabe, 2002). She has obtained many degrees related to health care (Registered General Nurse, Bachelor of Nursing Science, Registered Nurse Teacher, and Master Level Nursing). She has many years of experience and is currently teaching at Trinity Center for Health Sciences. As stated in the title, this study will review the patient’s interactions with nurses in relation to their communication. This study used a qualitative approach, as stated within the article, by viewing the life experiences of the participants.
The purpose of this paper is an overview of Jean Watson’s Theory of Caring. This theory can be taken into account as one of the most philosophicaly complicated of existent nursing theories. The Theory of Human Caring, which also has been reffered to as the Theory of Transpersonal Caring, is middle – range explanatory theory. (Fawccett, 2000) The central point of which is on the human component of caring and actual encounter between the client and the caregiver. Jean Watson has stated that her work was motivated by her search of a new meaning to the world of nursing and patient care. “ I felt a dissonnance between nursing’s (meta) paradigm of caring-healing and health, and medicines’s (meta) paradigm of diagnosis and treatment, and concentration on disease and pathology”. (Watson, 1997,p.49)
Kozier, B., Erb, G., Berman, A., Snyder, S. J., Buck, M., Yiu, L., & Stamler, L. L. (2014). fundamentals of nursing : caring and clinical judgment. (3rd ed.). Toronto:
Therapeutic communication is an important skill for a nurse to utilize when it comes to relationships between the patient and nurse. In Regina’s case, integration of empathetic and compassionate communication skills in combinat...
Kelekian diagnoses Vivian and begins to discuss treatment options. He suggests a form of chemotherapy, which is directed specifically at patients like her and is experimental. “This treatment is the strongest thing we have to offer you, and as research it will make a significant contribution to our knowledge” (Bosanquet & Nicols, 2001). This show cases the doctor having power over the patient. She is vulnerable and has just been diagnosed with stage 4 ovarian cancer. Vivian even says to herself, “there is no stage 5”. Just sounds like a vulnerable patient accepting higher authorities judgement even though he did mention that it was just “experimental”. Also, the words of Dr. Kelekian suggest that this is the only treatment option that will be helpful “this is the strongest thing we have to offer you”. Another way the theme power is explored in the film is Vivian is completely stripped of her independence. She becomes a guinea pig and is just seen as research. We are first aware of this when Jason in the film does a physical and completely forgets to have the nurse in there with him. In the film, Vivian says, “health care professionals are a hazard for me” (Bosanquet & Nicols, 2001). Relatedly, the nurse Susie describes how Vivian cannot handle any more of the medication for the eight cycles of chemotherapy as because it was becoming too much for her. Susie tells Jason: “I think you need to talk to Kelekian about lowering the dose for the
Upon returning to work, Jack changes his outlook towards his job, his coworkers, patients and his interns. He teaches his students exactly what it will feel like to be the patient. He was able to take his experience and teach others the importance of communicating empathy in the healthcare field. He is now able to look past his patients’ illnesses and treat them as patients with feelings and respect. The lesson he takes with him is was how important life is when we use the right communication.