Wit: an Analysis
Wit: An Analysis
Abstract
Wit is a movie about a woman dying of cancer. It is a powerful drama that chronicles the last few months of her life. The recurring theme throughout the movie is the nurses’ role as the compassionate, caring individual who humanizes the main character. The nurse seems to be everywhere and able to do just about everything that is needed. The nurses’ sole purpose in this film is to promote healing, preserve dignity and respect the patient as a whole person. The nursing theorist strongly represented in this film is Jean Watson. . This paper explains Jean Watson’s theoretical concept how the nurse in the movie utilizes her nursing theory model. Summary of Wit
Wit is the story of Vivian Bearing, a doctor of English literature who is diagnosed with stage four, metastatic ovarian cancer. Her oncologist, Dr. Harvey Kalekian, decides that the best course of treatment for her would be eight months of experimental chemotherapy. As with many doctors, he speaks in medical jargon, and does not fully explain what exactly the treatment will entail. There is a lack in humanity when Dr. Kalekian talks about the diagnosis and the treatment. With unknowing certainty, Dr. Bearing agrees to the chemotherapy and begins her experimental chemotherapy. Dr. Kalekian has a group of physicians doing their fellowship with him. One of the physicians, Jason, is a former student of Dr. Bearing. The viewer can quickly gather that he does not see Dr. Bearing as a patient or even as his former professor, but rather a guinea pig for his research for cancer treatment.
Throughout the film and during different stages of her treatment, Dr. Bearing flashes back to different times in her life including her childhood, her college years and different times in her career and the viewer gets to see Dr. Bearing in different lights. The most profound flashback scene is when a student of hers asks her for an extension on his paper that is due because he has a
Abstract
Wit is a movie about a woman dying of cancer. It is a powerful drama that chronicles the last few months of her life. The recurring theme throughout the movie is the nurses’ role as the compassionate, caring individual who humanizes the main character. The nurse seems to be everywhere and able to do just about everything that is needed. The nurses’ sole purpose in this film is to promote healing, preserve dignity and respect the patient as a whole person. The nursing theorist strongly represented in this film is Jean Watson. . This paper explains Jean Watson’s theoretical concept how the nurse in the movie utilizes her nursing theory model. Summary of Wit
Wit is the story of Vivian Bearing, a doctor of English literature who is diagnosed with stage four, metastatic ovarian cancer. Her oncologist, Dr. Harvey Kalekian, decides that the best course of treatment for her would be eight months of experimental chemotherapy. As with many doctors, he speaks in medical jargon, and does not fully explain what exactly the treatment will entail. There is a lack in humanity when Dr. Kalekian talks about the diagnosis and the treatment. With unknowing certainty, Dr. Bearing agrees to the chemotherapy and begins her experimental chemotherapy. Dr. Kalekian has a group of physicians doing their fellowship with him. One of the physicians, Jason, is a former student of Dr. Bearing. The viewer can quickly gather that he does not see Dr. Bearing as a patient or even as his former professor, but rather a guinea pig for his research for cancer treatment.
Throughout the film and during different stages of her treatment, Dr. Bearing flashes back to different times in her life including her childhood, her college years and different times in her career and the viewer gets to see Dr. Bearing in different lights. The most profound flashback scene is when a student of hers asks her for an extension on his paper that is due because he has a
References: George, Julia B. (2010). Nursing theories: the base for professional nursing practice. Upper Saddle River: Pearson. Houghton, Peggy M., & Houghton, Timothy J. (2009). APA: the easy way!. Flint: Baker College. Nichols, M. (Director). (2001). Wit [Motion picture]. United States: Avenue Pictures Productions. Taylor, Carol, & Lillis, Carol. (2001). Fundamentals of nursing: the art and science of nursing care. Upper Saddle River: Pearson. Watson, Jean (1988). Nursing: Human science and human care: A theory of nursing. New York: National League for Nursing. Watson, Jean (2005). Caring science as sacred science. Philadelphia: F.A. Davis.