Miss Vivian Bearing In The Movie Wit

The movie Wit is a very inspiring and mind blowing movie. It was about an English Professor, Miss Vivian Bearing who is very well educated and well known to its intense knowledge about the metaphysical poetry of John Donne who was then diagnosed with stage four metastatic ovarian cancer. Miss Vivian Bearing is a strong intellectual woman who portrayed a very resilient character in the movie. She demonstrated a straight face with no tears and said, “Okay, go on” (Wit, 2001) as Dr. Harvey Kelekian mentioned to her about the diagnosis and the treatments involved. Also, when Dr. Kelekain mentioned about letting her family informed, she said “It is unnecessary” (Wit, 2001). She signed the consent for the chemotherapy at the same time she will

serve as an experiment to the research and did not ask further questions about what will happen in the future and the seriousness of the side effects of the treatment. Thus, she did not let her emotions overcome her and thought of the diagnosis and all the treatments in perspective. As the movie goes on and as she grows increasingly ill, she suffers greatly with all the side effects of the treatment- fever, chills, vomiting, and abdominal pain. This time, she realizes that not everything can be put in perspective. She felt like she was alone and that the doctors that treating her in which includes her former student Dr. Jason Posner was just there for the research and she serves them their purpose. It was not about treating her to save her life from the illness but for research and research only. The only character in the movie that really took care and show empathy towards her was the nurse. Miss Susie was there to treat her the way she is, the person. Towards the end as she was really ill and her condition was going down, she was visited by her previous graduate school Professor and mentor, Professor Ashford. While talking to her, she admits her insensitivity towards other people and showing her vulnerability in which she cried. When Miss Ashford ask her if she wants John Donne poems, she said “no” (Wit, 2001). As her life comes to an end, Miss Vivian Bearing realizes and learned that human compassion is more important in the lives of each individual.
Theorist
Jean Watson’s theory of Human/ Transpersonal Caring showed a big influence in the movie, Wit. It was evidently shown that Nurse Susie exhibited genuinely of herself and how she cares about Vivian. She continuously show a helping-trusting and caring relationship with her by providing Vivian basic human needs in alleviating her sufferings and just being there physically as her support. Thus, she provided her with dignity and respected her decisions when she decided to be DNR. As what Watson’s theory says, “Caring is for the purpose of promoting healing, preserving dignity, and respecting the wholeness and interconnectedness of humanity.” (George 2010, p. 454)
There are three major conceptual elements in Jean Watson’s theory; transpersonal caring relationship, the ten carative factors, and caring occasion/ caring moment.

I would personally use and I believe that transpersonal caring relationship was manifested throughout the movie. It is defined as human-to-human connectedness that is occurring in a nurse-patient encounter that each is touched by one another (George, 2010). Nurse Susie is the primary nurse of Vivian Bearing since admission. Since then, they both have built a unique relationship that was not common to other individuals. She demonstrated a caring-trusting relationship in which Vivian can talk to her in a casual manner and can express herself in a way that nobody will judge and would understand what she is been going through. For instance, they would talk over a deep conversation with popsicles as Nurse Susie comfortably raised her feet up. As evidence in one of the scene where Vivian realizes that she is not doing so well and showing her vulnerability and said, “I am scared…Now I am not sure of myself anymore. I am going to die” (Wit, 2001) and then Nurse Susie stood by her, holding her hands and offering relief to relax and be calm and responded in empathy that says “I understand… it’s okay… it’s alright” (Wit, 2001) and offered popsicles to have some relief. According to George (2010) caring- healing potentiates harmony, wholeness, and comfort and promote inner healing by releasing some of the disharmony and negative energy that may interfere with the healing process. Through this Nurse Susie provided comfort and healing just by listening to all the fears and pains that Miss Bearing has been dealing with. They both have established that nurse-patient relationship where both comfortable with each other. Thus, Miss Bearing felt relieved after that as she continue to fight for her life every day. Those small acts of kindness makes a big difference in the patients’

life.
Another factor that makes me realize that signifies the Transpersonal Caring Theory was when Nurse Susie informed Miss Bearing about do not resuscitate (DNR). Nurse Susie is concerned about her well-being that she told her about the spread of the cancer and at the same time the truth about the treatment that the doctors gave her the strongest medication as they possibly can. And then she explained and educated her what is DNR and how the process goes. She presented Miss Bearing both choices whether she wanted to be no code or full code but she said, “no, just don’t complicate the matter... just let it stop” (Wit, 2001). Nurse Susie wanted her to make sure that she really want to be DNR as she kept on repeating the question. She then informed Dr. Kelekian to write the order. With this Nurse Susie revealed her strong moral commitment and her deepest concerns with her. She respected her decision to be no code as one of Vivian’s wishes. According to George (2010), the moral commitment and consciousness needed to protect, enhance and promote and potentiate human dignity, wholeness and healing that the person creates his or her own meaning of existence. Through this, Miss Bearing made a stand and decided on her own with the help of Nurse Susie to attain her last desires and wishes about her end-of life to maintain human dignity. Not only that, after Miss Bearing decided to be DNR she asked Nurse Susie that says, “Are you still going to take care of me?” (Wit, 2001) and as competent, compassionate and caring Nurse Susie she responded without any doubt that says “Of course I am” (Wit, 2001) while stroking Vivian’s hand. This implies that human to human relationship is still the main focus of nursing; taking good care of the sick and well regardless of any imperfections. Also, it is evidently shown in the movie that she stood up for Miss Bearing during her last moment here on earth. She insisted that she is DNR and protected her rights and last desires as Dr. Jason called for a code. Nurse Susie showed her compassion and practiced her good moral ethics in protecting the rights of the person, Miss Vivian Bearing.
Movie Critique
The movie Wit is a very powerful-moving story. It is a movie that is not like the ordinary drama that most people can relate to but it is all about living, dying and death. It also portrays the standards of care that is given within the healthcare system. I like the fact that they produced a movie that was very real to most of us. Mike Nichols, the director of the film did a very good job in portraying the healthcare system and at the same time creating various characters that have similarities to its real life job description. Emma Thompson who played as Vivian Bearing, an English professor who was diagnosed with metastatic stage four ovarian cancer did a marvelous job in making the character into play. However, I am most stunned to the character of Audra McDonald who played as Susie Monahan, the primary nurse whom have the compassion of taking good care of her and have a genuine heart to go beyond her capabilities to help and assist with her sufferings and at the same time serves as her only support.
As I watched the movie twice, I have more positive views. One of them is it just a marvelous, life-changing and very educational story in which you can take away from. For me the movie Wit, revealed a true meaning of nursing. As a registered nurse this movie serves as my inspiration to keep going and be as compassionate as Nurse Susie. Audra McDonald did her part as a nurse who revealed a loving- caring relationship towards her. It was shown that nursing is all about caring and having that human connection that will help in the healing process. Nursing is not just treating the sick with their illness but being there as support helps them emotionally, psychologically and spiritually in battling their disease. Caring is just as powerful in the healing process. There is another character that made a teary- eyed. Professor Ashford, Vivian’s graduate school professor and a mentor who would encourage Vivian to go out and spend some time with friends then rather than in the library. She was the one who visited her in the hospital who climbs into bed with her, cradling her head in her lap, and reads from the children's classic The Runaway Bunny towards the end of her life. She knows Vivian very well and her dedication to John Donne’s poetry until the very last moment where she asked if she wants John Donne poetry and Vivian refused. With this she knew that Vivian realizes that not everything can be put into perspective and thus everything is falling away.
I strongly suggest this movie to everybody not just people in medical field. This movie is a life-learning story in which everybody can relate or will relate in some point in their lives. It depicted the true meaning of nursing in which it is all about compassion and morality. As a registered nurse, I would always re-collect myself to become compassionate and practice what I have learned regardless of the challenges that I have in the field of nursing.