|
Student
Reactions to Movie, "Wit"
The
movie follows an intellectual, middle aged woman, from diagnosis of her ovarian
cancer to her death. Her treatment by health care professionals lacks compassion
and never acknowledges her dying process. - I
cried through the whole movie. I should have known because in every course by
Dr. Spellbring there is a movie that I cry through. I think it's good because
we all bottle things up and a movie like this is a way to express our emotions
and relate. The doctors in this movie were uncaring and unfeeling…We as nurses
can make a difference in the dying process. This movie was a good example of what
NOT TO DO!!!
- During the dying process the
main character feels isolated, degraded and without control. All she wants is
to be shown kindness and compassion. But she is viewed by the researchers as a
woman of great strength who should see her death as a chance to make great advances
in research. The nurse sees her as a human being, frightened of dying. …Every
individual wants to and should die with dignity…
- "Wit"
was a very sad movie. It made me realize how lucky I am to have family. The patient's
nurse was there through her end of life and provided good and compassionate care.
The doctors did not value the patient for who she was, but for education and research.
This was sad. The belief about death and dying was different for different characters
in this movie. The nurse saw it as a natural process; the doctor looked at the
patient's case as research.
- We nurses have been
asked to be the multidisciplinary person who takes care of everything for the
patient. We are the advocate, the respiratory therapist, the physical and occupation
therapist, the nutritionist, etc. We have been tasked-out so much beyond the nursing
scope. Everything has to be done in such a short amount of time that it is hard
to spend quality time. We are resourceful people and can find the time. Sometimes
we just need to be reminded and this movie helps remind us.
- Wit"
truly is a spectacular movie. The patient is a woman of strict principles, a professor
of English literature. She finally crumbles with her cancer and eventually dies.
She dies in the hospital while been cared for by a compassionate nurse, though
I felt the nurse could have done more by talking to her about the end of life
process. We could all see that she was very scared of dying. Unfortunately, she
died with no one at her side. Even with all the poems that she recited about death
and dying, I don't think she came to terms with it…Overall this is an excellent
movie, and very appropriate for this class….
Students
Discuss Their Cultural Responses to Death When
someone dies in my culture, the body is bathed and wrapped in a blanket, then
dressed with moccasins and jewelry…Some will paint the dead with red earth
on the forehead, cheeks and chin. The family prepares meals to serve at the wake
and after the burial. In honor of the deceased we give away dry goods, fabric,
pillows, towels and what-not to the living tribe. The family fills a suitcase
with personal belongings, and places it on top of the coffin. My grandmother believes
that when our relatives die, their remaining belongings should be burned so they
do not come back to look for them.
My
Irish relatives believe in an open casket viewing. We kiss the cheek of the departed
loved one as we file by...It is considered a great honor to be asked to be a pallbearer…I
was touched at one funeral where a lone piper played during the internment…An
Irish wake is like a farewell party with abundant food and alcohol. We talk about
the departed and remember the good times as well as the bad times. A range of
emotions occurs, from openly grieving, to laughing and joking.
In
the Jewish faith, we bury the deceased within 24 hours of death. We do not believe
in embalming…I remember when my grandmother died, my pregnant sister was
saddened because Jewish custom dictates that pregnant women not attend burials…After
my grandmother's funeral, we set up the traditional "shiva," a time
for friends and family to mourn. We sit together on small stools in a relative's
home and we pray. Immediate family tie black ribbons around their upper arms to
wear for 30 days…My husband had enough after 4 days, when his own father
died. I suppose he felt in his heart that he could mourn in his own way…A
year after the death the headstone is placed on the grave at the unveiling…Once
yearly, a candle is lit honoring our deceased loved one…After my grandmother
died I just felt exhausted from travel, the quick funeral, making the arrangements
and the emotional toll of the whole experience…My sister had a boy and named
him after my grandmother…
Student Responses to Virtual Palliative Care Team Meeting
I
saw a huge amount of value in the meeting. It was my first time witnessing a team's
case study meeting. I participated in a consult team when my father was discharged
from the hospital, after his amputation. I know first hand of the immense importance
of these sessions and how patients benefit from them.
When
my mom was intubated I talked to her a lot, sang to her and held her hand. She
could not talk but looked at me. I said thank you for taking such good care of
me and that I would see her again soon. I can only hope that this kind of communication
took place for the son in the case study presented at the virtual team conference.
The virtual
team meeting was very informative to me because I really did not know which disciplines
customarily met, and was impressed by how informed they actually were, and by
each discipline's specific goals and objectives. It would have been interesting,
had they not agreed on a plan of care, to see how they might have reached a compromise.
You
always hear about the multidisciplinary approach, but now we start to see how
it works when done with effort. Each member interacts differently with the patient
and brings a unique perspective to the table. It was vitally important to learn
that the patient did not take to the social worker, and actually withdrew from
her. Another team member, with whom the patient has a better connection, can then
officially step in to fill that void. It's important to identify the staff member
(s) with the strongest emotional connection to the patient.
This
team of healthcare professionals respected the patient and her wishes. Her case
was handled professionally and compassionately. I had the feeling this group had
such a grasp on what each patient needed, and worked together to find the most
appropriate plans of care. I felt all aspects of the patient's life were discussed
and respected. I saw no biases or lack of concern for the patient.
|
