Movie Character

Health Assessment
Presentation
My Sisters Keeper

KATE:

A PATIENT
WITH PROMYELOCYTIC
LEUKEMIA

Barno Zaitkhanova
Course NRS-434VN-0501
Prof. Becky Hauserman
Sept 10th, 2016

Overview
My Sisters keeper is a film about a couple whose lives are centered
around
their daughter Kate who is a patient with promyelocytic leukemia.
This presentation focuses on Kate Fitzgeralds Character.
Introduction and overview of Kate Fitzgerald
Assessment using Gordons Functional Health patterns
Personal assessment of Kate
Cultural, geographic, religious, ethnic or spiritual considerations
Nursing Diagnosis
Normal and Abnormal health patterns
Nursing interventions
Community Resources

Movie Character and

MyBackground
Sisters Keeper is a film about a couple whose lives are centered around their daughter Kate
From a young age, Kate was diagnosed with leukemia and doctors gave her little time to live.
Her parents undertake a decision to duplicate Kates chromosomes by genetically conceiving
another child (Anna) in order to use her anatomy to save Kates life.
Anna, finds out about her conception, and later files a lawsuit against her own parents. Anna
claims the lawsuit is for her right to life and to grant her the decision-making privilege
regarding what to do with her own body. This is what she has viewers believing until we later
find out that the actual motivation behind the lawsuit was because Kate decides to end her life
and put an end to her suffering.
The family becomes torn between the tension of the lawsuit and struggling to keep Kate happy
and alive. (CMN4100, 2010).
Kate Fitzgerald
Is a 16 year old diagnosed with leukemia at age 2

Lives with her father, mother a brother and a sister

She is progressively getting weaker and treatments
are no longer effective.
Has renal kidney failure, is receiving hemodialysis
and getting chemotherapy treatment for leukemia .
Has a short love affair with a fellow patient

Functional Health Pattern

HealthAssessment
Perception/Health Management
-Kate is well aware of the disease
-Follows the medications and advices from the doctor and family
-Kates sickness is covered by insurance
loves going to the beach but avoids sun exposure.

Nutrition/Metabolic
-The Family takes a lot of care and precautions preparing foods because of
the childs condition
-Family prepare hygienic and organic foods

Pattern of Elimination
-Due to Kates kidney failure, she gets hemodialysis treatment, she has a
dialysis catheter, so urination frequency is monitored by either the nurse or
the family.
- Pattern of Bowel is not displayed in the movie.

Assessment Continued
Pattern of Activity/Exercise
-Sometimes Kate is too weak and tired to do any activities, she is encouraged
by the family.
-Loves to go to the beach, enjoys shopping. Goes on date with boyfriend.

Cognitive-Perceptual Pattern
-Kate does not have any sensory deficits, reads books, listens to music
- Pain is a common factor and is managed with prescription painkillers
-She is judgmental and wants to end her life by avoiding kidney transplant,
which she know is a temporary solution.

Pattern of Sleep and Rest

-Sleeps well most of the time, but some time cannot when she has blood
vomiting in the nights and pain
-Kate is encouraged by the family to take rest as much as she can.
-She takes nap during day when she feels tired.

Assessment Continued
Pattern of Self Perception and
Self Concept
-Kate is bold enough to accept the
disease and keeps smiling throughout the
film
-Feels that she should not be a burden on
her sister or family anymore

Role/Relationship Patterns
- The family portrayed in this film is
closely bonded and also broken apart
(CMN4100, 2010).
- Starts dating a fellow patient Taylor, and is loved
and encouraged by him
- Responsible as a elder sister, does not want Anna
suffer more because of her.

Sexuality/Reproductive Patterns

Has normal feeling of being loved,

she dates and at one point have sex with
Taylor.

Assessment Complete
Pattern of Coping and Stress Tolerance
-Kate does her best to cope with the disease and her family helps her as
well. This is portrayed when Kates mother shaves her head in order to
make her feel pretty.
- she is encouraged by her boy friend, and when he dies, she is supported
by the family.

Pattern of Values and Beliefs

- Though the movie does not display any following of religion or belief, it

seem that the children have been taught from child hood to respect, love
and support each other.

Personal Assessment
Kate avoids being social, but likes to hang out with her family
members
Though she is sick shows enthusiasm in dating, love, shopping
Loves her family especially her sister Anna
Wants to enjoy the remaining life, by stopping medication and going
to the beach
Was depressed when she comes to know that her boyfriend had died
and attempts suicide

Analysis of Health Assessment

Normal assessment findings
-Regular teenage girl who wants to shop, go to the beach, date etc.
-She is creative, does a album of memories beautifully
-Shares personal secrets and matters with Anna

Abnormal or risk-based findings

-Suicidal attempt upon notice of boyfriends demise, doesnt want kidney transplant
- Worsening condition and getting weaker
- has nose bleed due to leukemia

Additional Observations
Cultural: The family is very integrated and is ready to sacrifice do
everything to save Kate. Genuine support given to the family by the
mother and father. Family portrays importance of effective interpersonal
interaction between family members.
Geographical : The Family lives in California in the movie.
Religious: No religious affiliation
Ethnic: Caucasian or White American
Spiritual: Not shown

Resources

www.cancercare.org
Provides counseling, education, information, financial assistance,
support groups and publications to patients and families.
www.cancer.org The American Cancer Society
Fights cancer with research, support, education, counseling and
treatment referral, treatment tools and information
Phone.no 1-800-227-2345

Nursing Considerations
Nursing Diagnosis
- Intense pain
- Nose bleed
- Nausea due to chemotherapy

Health Promotion, Prevention,

Maintenance
Health Promotion: Avoid high doses of radiation, avoid exposure to the chemical
benzene, and
avoid smoking, second hand smoke and other tobacco use
Health Prevention: Monitor fluid intake and output, Inspection of skin /
mucous membranes for Petechiae, Ecchymoses area; noticed bleeding gums, blood color of
rust
or vague in feces and urine, bleeding from the puncture further invasive. Implementing
measures to prevent tissue injury / bleeding (Nanda, 2011).
Health Maintenance: Anticipate need for pain relief, Respond immediately to complaint of
pain,
Determine the appropriate pain relief methods. Pharmacological methods and nonpharmacological methods (Gradishar, Muzio, Filipski, & Klopp, n.d). Administer the antinausea
medications as ordered 1-24 hours before initiating chemotherapy and routinely for the
expected period of nausea and vomiting for the specific chemotherapeutic agents being
administered (Saunders, 2012)
-

Conclusion
My Sisters Keeper was an effective way to portray sensitive
health issues such as patients rights, family support &
conflict, health communication, ethics, human rights and
medical emancipation. The emotions evoked from the film
allowed viewers to reflect on their own health and think
critically about the often overlooked, yet fundamental
concerns with patients and their well-being. The principles
that stem out of My Sisters Keeper are difficult to face as
they challenge morality and humanity. The messages of
this film highlight the importance of understanding the
several dimensions of hardships and struggles, beyond
illness and disease that patients must undergo.

References
CMN4100. (2010). A Film Analysis... My Sister's Keeper. Retrieved from
http://cmn4100msk.blogspot.in/
Gradishar, D., Muzio, L.,Filipski, A., & Klopp, A. (n.d). Pain. Nursing
Diagnosis Care Plan. 4ed. Retrieved from
http://www1.us.elsevierhealth.com/MERLIN/Gulanick/archive/Constructor/g
ulanick39.html
Nanda. (2011). Nanda Nursing Diagnosis and Interventions for Leukemia.
Retrieved from http://nursing-care-plan.blogspot.in/2011/12/2-nandanursing-diagnosis-and.html
Saunders. (2012). Nausea .NURSING DIAGNOSIS. Retrieved from
http://www1.us.elsevierhealth.com/SIMON/Ulrich/Constructor/diagnoses.cf
m?did=61
Wikipedia.org, (n.d). My Sister's Keeper(film). Retrieved from
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/My_Sister's_Keeper_(film)#Changes_from_book
yahooanswers, (2008). Why does Leukemia cause nosebleeds? Retrieved
from http://answers.yahoo.com/question/index?
qid=20081216125805AAwqqEi