WIT Film Analysis on Effective Communication

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WIT Film Analysis on Effective Communication
Effective communication is an important aspect for establishing therapeutic relationships.
Effective communication enables nurses to provide ethical, safe, quality, and person-centered
nursing care (Farrington and Townsend, 2014). Effective communication refers to a verbal or
nonverbal methods that relay information in a clear and simple term (Matusitz and Spear, 2014).
Communication is essential to nursing as nurses are used as communication hub and relay or
interpret information between family members, physicians, caregivers and the patients (Jolles,
Clark and Braam, 2012). The following essay discusses effective and ineffective communication
when providing nursing care as watched from a WIT Movie 2001 directed by Mike Nichols. The
essay will also contain my reflection on knowledge or skills gaps and a plan for improving
communication effectiveness when providing nursing care.
The WIT Movie was shot in a hospital setting where the main character Vivian Bearing is
diagnosed with Stage (IV) Ovaries Cancer. The patient is convinced by Harvey Kelekian to
agree and undertake an experimental eight months treatment that was to help contribute
knowledge towards cancer treatment. Harvey Kelekian is a prominent physician and leads a team
of researchers who include a former Vivian’s student Jason Posner and a primary nurse Susie
Monahan (WIT, 2001). The physicians are involved in several ineffective communications that
are insensitive and amuses the patient causing more pain that the real illness. The phrase “how
are you feeling today?” is frequently as a form of greetings or inquiring her condition. Vivian
narrates how she was asked how she was feeling today after a four hours operation. She
remembers how she used to be asked the same question while growing up and contrasts with the
current situation. Vivian remarks that when she dies she will not be able to hear the question. For
instance, Doctor Posner together with other researchers asks Vivian what she was feeling today
and she replies she was fine. Doctor Posner then leads the physicians on experimental briefing.
Vivian feels that after teaching she was used to a specimen to learn and contribute to existing
knowledge. In another account, Jason Posner in an isolation room after taking an assessment asks
Vivian how she was feeling on that day. Vivian replied that she was fine and was just taking
sometime from the chills. Vivian thereafter expresses her feelings and attitudes towards her
condition in isolation room when the Doctor leaves the room. Jason Posner also asks Vivian how
she was feeling that day after she had several treatments and now she was back to her room.

Vivian has expressed distress about the series of treatments that she had undergone before doctor
Posner assessment. The phrase “how you are feeling today?” has an automatic spontaneous
response “fine” (Ha and Longnecker, 2010). The other party is obliged to answer in a certain
way not to disappoint. This applies to patients too as they are obliged to give a positive response
despite their ill condition not to disappoint (Bramhall, 2014). The phrase said to patients also
becomes more of a greeting rather than an inquiry. This leads to the patients responding with a
short answer or in an expected manner that does not reveal the patient’s emotions, attitudes, or
feelings. The physicians are thereby not able to get an inquiry because the phrase does not
encourage patients to give a detailed feedback.
On the other side, the movie contains effective communication scenery. Nurse Susie shows good
therapeutic relationship and communicates effectively with Vivian. Susie answers Vivian call
early in the morning where they engage in a conversation. Susie starts the conversation with
Vivian by inquiring if there is a problem since she was awake at 4am. Susie combines tone and
body language to communicate with Vivian. The nurse tries to find out why the patient doesn’t
sleep. Vivian explains that she is not able to sleep as she kept on thinking. The nurse changes her
body posture and looks directly to the patient. Vivian expresses her doubts and that she was
scared. Vivian becomes emotional and Susie responds by a body contact and showing care to the
patient. The nurse also provides Vivian with popsicles and sits alongside her. The nurse and
Vivian engaged in an honest discussion was targeted to providing the patient with knowledge
(Ha and Longnecker, 2010). A nurse offering a touch is a powerful means of communicating
with a patient. Touching a patient’s hands conveys that the nurse is concerned and shows
empathy (Shannon, 2012). Maintaining eye contact with patient expresses confidence that offer
encouragement to their condition (Garrett, 2016). The body posture is also an important part of
effective communication. It helps a nurse communicate better by showing relation that reduces
anxiety to patients. Therefore, Susie was effective in communicating with Vivian by finding a
balance between empathy and honest discussion.