The Wit Analysis Essay | Assignment

Running head: THE WIT ANALYSIS ESSAY 1
The Wit Analysis Essay
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THE WIT ANALYSIS ESSAY
2
The Wit Analysis Essay
Introduction
Promoting effective health care service delivery calls upon advocating the significance of
therapeutic communications. This paper is set to provide a summary of “The Wit” which is based
on the effect of communication on medical practice. Part 1 of this essay explores the drama,
whereas part 2 presents a personal reflection through the identification of knowledge gaps in
therapeutic communications. Furthermore, the paper extends to provide personal strategies in
overcoming the underlying gaps.
Part 1
Anticipating the elements of therapeutic communication is significant in the nursing
practice. Therapeutic communication encompasses various elements such as the mental,
physical, and emotional wellbeing of the patients. In other words, therapeutic communication
should display a high degree of concern to the feelings of the patients. Excellent communication
skills in the therapeutic setting motivate patients and their family members to point out their
grievances and concerns regarding the seriousness of their condition (Kemppainen, 2019). The
Wit illustrates this narrative, particularly how effective and non-effective communication affects
patients' outcomes. The film involves a 48-year old lady (Vivian Bearing) who is diagnosed
with stage 4 metastatic ovarian cancer by her doctor (Harvey Kelekian). In the first phase of the
scene, the patient is approached by the doctor using complex medical language and made to
agree to a chemotherapy experiment that guides in Kelekian’s research. The film also displays a
weaker use of both nonverbal and verbal communication. The doctor fails to observe the facial
expressions of the patient to acknowledge confusion. Neither does the doctor ask the patient if
she articulates the concepts. The position of a doctor also negatively affects the process of data
acquisition from the patient. For instance, standing has proven to negatively impact the patients'
confidence in information delivery (O'Hagan et al., 2014). The service lady also presents poor
communication skills when she brings a jar in the room and fails to either look or present
greetings to Vivian. The same scenario is witnessed on the radiologist, who not only speaks in a
harsh tone but also fails to keep eye contact with the patient. The radiologist fails to explain to
the patient what is yet to happen. Furthermore, the radiologist is not concerned about the patient's

THE WIT ANALYSIS ESSAY
3
status (whether comfortable or not). Looking and listening in patients' care is a fundamental
aspect of therapeutic communication (Bhat and Cook, 2011).
Effective communication is also illustrated in the film. For instance, when Susie took the
patient to Jason for medical history, Jason presents a smile on the patient's face, introduced
himself to Vivian, and asked Vivian how she was feeling. He further adds that her presence in
the room was specifically for medical history (Wit, 2001). However, he still fails to adhere to all
aspects of effective communication because he fails to keep eye contact while communicating.
On the same note, he does not request consent from the patient in answering personal questions.
Immediately after asking queries on the patient's history, Jason looks confused and asks the
patient to lie to the bed for examination (Wit, 2001). He forgets the fact that there is a third party
(another female nurse), and permission must be granted before the physical examination.
Suddenly, he recalls and rushes outside to look for Sussie while leaving the patient in an
uncomfortable position (half-naked and the door open). This aspect breaches the confidentiality
of Vivian. According to Rosenstei (2013), medical practitioners must contact themselves in a
manner that is orderly and maintains the dignity of the patients. The disordered and uncouth
examination has a profound mental and emotional effect on the patient. Vivian vomits out of
humiliation following the degrading nature of her experience.
When Vivian is asked by Susie if she needed anything, she draws concerns regarding
Friday examinations whereby doctors do not ask her permission before removing clothes from
her abdomen region. She also claims that everyone starts pressing her abdomen. Vivian
compares herself like a Guinea pig concerning how she is treated by doctors. Later, Jason
describes cancer as an amazing condition while contacting a regular checkup on Vivian. Susie
also treats the patient with kindness. The promotion of empathy has proven to promote positive
expectations among patients and a reduction in pain (Howick et al., 2018). The moment Jason
diagnoses Vivian with secondary infection, he disagrees with Susie's suggestion on lowering the
dose and transfers the patient to isolation. Vivian shares her feelings on death fear. In a
preceding event, the two share popsicle, and Susie displays available varieties. Vivian makes a
choice on the "Do Not Resuscitate” order. Later, the condition of the patient becomes severe, and
she is placed o drip by Dr. Kelekian. The final visitor received by Vivian was Dr. Ashford, who