“NURSES: If Florence Could See Us Now” made its debut at the American Nurses Credentialing Center (ANCC) National Magnet Conference in Los Angeles on October 11, 2012. The film, which was funded by several sponsors including the American Nurses Association (ANA), the ANCC, and API Healthcare, is a feature-length documentary that showcases the complex and challenging world of nursing.
Over 100 nurses across nine states were interviewed, representing the many different roles that nurses have. “There was no scripting or prepping. We showed up with a camera crew and had candid conversations. It’s authentic and real,” says documentary filmmaker Kathy Douglas, RN, MHA.
Douglas’ inspiration for the film was driven by her belief that a deeper understanding of the role and value of nursing among the public and policymakers will help form a successful future for health care in this country. “The film’s title acknowledges the role Florence Nightingale played in the development of the field of nursing.”
The film was well received at the conference. “Thank you again and again for the comprehensive picture of who nurses are today,” says Kathleen Lambert, RN, BSN, JD, an attorney at law in Tucson, Arizona. “Florence would be proud of the diversity, intelligence, innovation, dedication, and tenderness that was so evident in each frame of this production.”
“One of the deepest privileges of being a nurse provider is to sit as witness to people’s stories, their struggles, their vulnerability, their hopes and dreams,” says Jonathan Van Nuys, RN, who is featured in the film. “I see stories that break your heart, stories that touch my core; I fall in love with each patient in a different way and just want to mentally hold and embrace them. I’m happy to share my story with others, to just let it go and let people take from it what they will, which is hopefully a piece of hope or inspiration.”
“NURSES: If Florence Could See Us Now” is dedicated to nurses everywhere for the extraordinary work they do every day and in memory of Joyce C. Clifford, PhD, RN, FAAN, for her numerous contributions to the profession. To learn more about the film, visitwww.nursesthemovie.com.
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