THE AMERICAN NURSE is a heart-warming film that explores some of the biggest issues facing America - aging, war, poverty, prisons - through the work and lives of nurses. It is an examination of real people that will change how we think about nurses and how we wrestle with the challenges of healing America. THE AMERICAN NURSE is an important contribution to America's ongoing conversation about what it means to care. The film follows the paths of five nurses in various practice specialties including Jason Short as he drives up a rugged creek to reach a home-bound cancer patient in Appalachia. Tonia Faust, who runs a prison hospice program where inmates serving life sentences care for their fellow inmates as they're dying. Naomi Cross, as she coaches an ovarian cancer survivor through the Caesarean delivery of her son. Sister Stephen, a nun who runs a nursing home filled with goats, sheep, llamas and chickens, where the entire nursing staff comes together to sing for a dying resident.
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Reviews
There is, somehow, an interesting story here, as well as some good acting. There are also some good scenes
It's funny, it's tense, it features two great performances from two actors and the director expertly creates a web of odd tension where you actually don't know what is happening for the majority of the run time.
The movie runs out of plot and jokes well before the end of a two-hour running time, long for a light comedy.
Strong acting helps the film overcome an uncertain premise and create characters that hold our attention absolutely.
This documentary about nurses shows the profession like it is. It follows a labor/delivery/perinatal bereavement nurse who tells her own story - she is so brave. Also a home health nurse in Appalacia - showing the good and bad. The prison hospice nurse was so caring - part of nursing I had not thought about - but of course it exists. The military nurse who has seen action in the middle east and now helps those returning with their health issues. And then the nun/nurse - so invested in those she cares for - the elderly and the young. Loved the young boys bringing the baby goats and the alpaca into the home for the other residents - and then the mentioning that they may not be able to continue as an independent care facility for long. I worked in a hospital for 42 years - there are so many aspects to nursing but the most important thing is the caring for people and the individualization of the care for the patient and their family. This is a very well done documentary.