| Learning Objective #1: Understand the experiences of nurses who served in Vietnam during the Vietnam War, particularly as reflected in two documentary films | |||
| Learning Objective #2: Consider the possibility of incorporating film analysis as a tool in nursing research |
Objectives: This study 1) examined the experiences of nurses who served in Vietnam during the Vietnam War, particularly as reflected in two documentary films, and 2) considered the possibility of incorporating film analysis as a tool in nursing research.
Design: This is a qualitative research study, utilizing case study design.
Sample: Two publicly available documentary films were included for analysis: American Nurse (1996) and No Time for Tears (1993).
Concept: Films were reviewed for themes. Themes included motivation, difficulties and satisfactions; issues faced; consequences for the nurses.
Method: Textual analysis was used to explore the experiences of nurses in the Vietnam War documentary films.
Findings: 1) The experiences of nurses serving in Vietnam included: a) Nurses went to Vietnam for a variety of reasons including patriotism, desire to be a military nurse, adventure, hope to help people, and compensation. b) Nurses had to deal with emotional difficulties. c) Nurses faced ethical issues including saving soldiers with disabilities. d) Nurses experienced sexism, racism, and hatred against U.S. in Vietnam. e) Nurses suffered from PTSD and complications of Agent Orange. 2) The documentary films were consistent with professional literature on nurses serving in Vietnam. But they offered significant additional information not available in the literature, for example, experiencing of sexism and racism.
Conclusions: This qualitative study utilizing documentary films as case studies helped to understand more fully the experiences of nurses in Vietnam. Especially important, it suggests that certain very significant issues that have not been presented in literature were reflected in the film analysis.
Implications: Hopefully, this study will contribute to the richness of knowledge in nursing and increase in awareness among nurses of media. Beyond this single context, use of film analysis has further implications for understanding experiences of both the providers and recipients of health care in other contexts.
Back to Nursing Identity
Back to 14th International Nursing Research Congress
Sigma Theta Tau International
10-12 July 2003