Documentary filmmaker explores ‘critical role’ of nurses in managing COVID-19
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During the keynote address at the 2020 Rheumatology Nurses Society Annual Conference, a documentary filmmaker examined the grim challenges of the U.S. health care system, including COVID-19, through the eyes of nurses on the front lines.
“When I was thinking about talking to you all today, I poked around about rheumatology to figure out what role you play in our world,” Carolyn Jones, author, photographer and filmmaker, said in her presentation. “I came across the fact that over half of us over 50 will come your way eventually.”
In fact, Jones has personal experience with rheumatology nursing, having torn the meniscus in both knees, and has had a number of cortisone shots. “I am grateful for the role that you play,” she said.
Beyond rheumatology, Jones said that the key driver of so many of her recent projects — which include The American Nurse documentary, Defining Hope and, most recently, In Case of Emergency: Without You, We Don’t Stand A Chance — was the nurse who cared for her through breast cancer treatment. This prompted her to dig deeper into nursing, forming professional relationships and gaining deep admiration for members of the profession.
Though these projects stretch back a number of years, her work has gained attention because it dovetailed with COVID-19 and the substantial role nurses have played in managing the pandemic.
Jones pointed out that at the outset of 2020, the World Health Organization had deemed it the Year of the Nurse. “When COVID hit, we realized that it is all nurses that we can’t live without,” she said. “The role you play is really critical for us in finding our way to a better way of living. I applaud each and every one of you.”
The presentation included still images and video clips from the films Jones has produced, some of which were from COVID hotspots. “We started seeing images of face masks and protective gear,” she said. “This is part of the new language of how we care for each other.”
COVID has shown what an “incredible resource” nurses are, and that we are all “feeling the heaviness” that nurses feel each day, pandemic or otherwise.
Despite these challenges, Jones stressed that nursing is perennially viewed as one of the most trusted professions. “I have thought a lot about the emotional intelligence of nurses,” she said, suggesting that this is one quality that makes nurses so trustworthy.
Another quality is what Jones described as “moral intelligence.” She offered a quote on this topic from late PBS News anchor, Jim Lehrer. “Moral intelligence fosters trust,” he said. “It is exemplified in part by their ability to care for any person in need of care in a non-judgmental way. When someone has that quality, it is easy for us to put our trust in them.”
Digging deeper, Jones said that Aristotle even talked of moral intelligence. “You get there by the habitual repetition of doing good deeds day in and day out,” she said. “Which is what nursing is. To put yourself aside and take care of someone else is a beautiful thing.”
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Jones C. Keynote presentation: The American Nurse. Presented at: Rheumatology Nurses Society annual conference; August 5-8, 2020 (virtual meeting).
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