Susie: Strength Found In The Movie Wit

Strength Found in Susie In the inspirational movie Wit, there are many miscues in the healthcare-client interaction and moral character within the health field towards Vivian Bearing. Vivian, a doctorate of English literature, is suffering from stage four metastatic ovarian cancer. Throughout the film, Vivian experiences terrible bedside manner from physicians, ignorance of hospital staff, and feelings of being nothing more than scientific research. However Susie Monahan, the oncology nurse, demonstrates positive nursing ethics through compassionate care, moral integrity and respect for human dignity with patient centered advocacy. From the beginning of Vivian Bearing’s diagnosis with cancer, the health care team demonstrated poor sensitivity …show more content…
The American Nurses Association (ANA) describes this provision as individualized care while upholding respect sensitive to the patient needs and wishes. Susie recognized that she needed to uphold this right, preserve her dignity and wishes, and to advocate for Vivian in the final moments of her life. When the code team came in, she had to physically push away physicians and those in higher authority to protect Vivian’s wishes. Although many of the virtues and code of ethics are intertwined, this example of respect for human dignity along with patient centered advocacy best represents Susie’s actions in the scenario. Mary A. Maryland and Rose I. Gonzalez (2012), authors of journal article “Patient Advocacy in the Community and Legislature Arena”, best describes nurse advocacy as a voice for a patients even when they can’t speak for themselves. She dates her information as far back as Florence Nightingale and her role as a patient advocate. This is a positive portrayal of nursing responsibility towards their patients and one that Susie should be commended on for her