- View the film, End of Life [approximately 90”]. This film follows the lives of 5 individuals who are terminally ill. The film is shot over a four-year period.
- Reflect on the video and address the following questions:
A. Throughout the film, the scene cuts to a black screen and silence. In fact, there are long periods of silence in the film. What was your reaction to these things? How did you feel when the patients had difficulty articulating their thoughts and feelings? What do you believe the producers intended with use of these strategies? [Note: There is no right or wrong answer].
B. Select one of the 5 vignettes/stories presented in the film. In the vignette you selected, what was the most impactful or memorable part of that person’s story?
C. Consider the role of the nurse in caring for a terminally ill patient. How might a nurse encourage the patient in the vignette to talk about their terminal diagnosis at the time it is received and throughout the experience of dying?
D. As a nurse you may need to provide care for a person/family who is terminally ill/actively dying. After watching the film what questions/fears do you have about the role of the RN in supporting a person through this process?
Sample Solution