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e defined as making judgments about a
situation using reflection, and integrating
analysis, evaluation, and inference with
knowledge. According to Profetto-McGrath,
critical thinking is a necessary component
for the professional nurse to exercise
evidence-based practice. 1 Due to the threat
of zombies and the characters’ isolation in
the mall, it is not possible for Ana to employ
evidence-based practice by consulting with
experts. Furthermore, there is insufficient
time for properly researched evidence to be
generated and examined. 5 In the literature
reviewing critical thinking skills and
evidence based-practice, the professional
nurse would ideally have opportunity to
access such resources. Nevertheless, in the
film, Ana uses the best evidence she has
available to her in the given situation to
guide her practice.
In her triage center, Ana finds that one of
her patient’s conditions is deteriorating
quickly. She observes and astutely
comments that the patient is cold, and that
she has never seen such a bad infection
without an accompanying fever. Within a
couple of minutes, the patient dies. Ana
assesses the patient for a pulse, checks
the patient’s breathing, and determines
that the patient is dead. Ana’s knowledge,
assessment skills, and observations in this
scene compare to those of a professional
nurse. A few moments later, the deceased
patient rises and begins to attack Ana. After
Ana defends herself and kills her former
patient (now a zombie), Ana evaluates the
information available, uses inference and
previous knowledge of her interactions with
the zombies, and determines the mechanism
of the zombie infection. She determines
that the zombie infection is spread through
bites. The critical thinking skills employed by
the main character are comparable to those
expected of a professional nurse, and are
outlined in peer-reviewed nursing literature.
Thus, this film portrays the role of the nurse
positively, as comparable to roles outlined in
professional literature.
Professional nursing Values and
Ethics
The film takes place during a
communicable-disease outbreak spread
by zombie bites. The Canadian Nursing
Association (CNA) states that: “During a
natural or human-made disaster, including
a communicable disease outbreak,
nurses have a duty to provide care using
appropriate safety precautions.” 4 Throughout
the film, Ana abides by these regulations,
using the resources she has available to her.
Her actions in this respect are comparable
to those expected of a professional nurse
according to the CNA. 4
After discovering the mechanism of
transmission of the zombie infection in her
triage center, Ana tells the group that Frank,
one of her fellow survivors, has been bitten
and should be quarantined immediately.
Another character tells the group he thinks
it is too dangerous to keep Frank alive.
Our heroine immediately identifies and
challenges the ethics of this situation: “What
are we talking about here? Are we talking
about killing him?” 1 Though this situation
is not taking place within a formal nursing
environment or practice, it addresses a
number of nursing values and ethical
responsibilities.
Upon review of the Code of Ethics for
Registered Nurses, I believe that Ana
is encountering an ethical dilemma.
Throughout the career of a professional
nurse, ethical dilemmas and questions
are encountered where the nurse has a
difficult choice to make between two equally
compelling courses of action. Ana is faced
with this situation in the film. If Frank is
killed, it will be demoralizing and traumatic,
especially for his daughter, who is with
him. However, if Frank is not killed, he will
most likely become a zombie and attack the
remaining survivors.
Ana’s character is humanizing for the
audience because she reminds us of this
ethical dilemma. A professional nurse
has specific nursing values and ethical
responsibilities to uphold. Of the eight
values outlined in the Code of Ethics
for Registered Nurses, Ana maintains
four values that pertain specifically to
this situation: 1) Safe, Compassionate,
Competent Ethical Care, 2) Informed
Decision Making, 3) Preserving Dignity and
4) Promoting Justice. 4 She provides safe,
compassionate, competent and ethical care
for all of the survivors—to the best of her
ability—within her limited environment.
She discusses the ethical dilemma regarding
Frank’s zombie bite with Frank and the
group, thereby recognizing, respecting and
promoting Frank’s right to be informed
and to make a decision. She recognizes
and respects Frank’s intrinsic worth by
reminding the group that he has a daughter
who cares for him. And lastly, Ana upholds
principles of justice by safeguarding human
rights as much as possible within the given
situation, and promotes the public good for
the group of survivors.
autonomous Role of the nurse
At the very beginning of the film, the
audience is able to see what life is like for
Ana before the chaotic zombie infection
spreads. Ana interacts with a physician,
another health care professional, in the
emergency department. The physician
dismisses Ana’s statement that it is the end
of her shift and asks her to find a patient
who has been admitted to the hospital.
Here, the audience briefly witnesses the
heroine in a subservient role in relation to
the physician.
This situation relates to the autonomy of the
nursing profession. In this particular scene
in the film, Ana does not embody the role
of an autonomous professional. However,
in clinical settings, nurses do not report to
physicians, as the film portrays. 1 Nurses
report to their supervisor who is usually a
nurse, not a doctor. This misperception is
an ongoing challenge within popular media
sources. As previously discussed, nurses
have their own code of ethics as outlined by
the CNA. 4 Nursing is a distinct autonomous
profession that is regulated and governed
by experienced nurses, many of whom hold
graduate level degrees. 6
In order to address the discrepancy between
the media perception of the autonomy of
nursing and the truly autonomous nature
of the profession, nurses must advocate for
their profession and effectively communicate
with members of the media to demonstrate
accurate representations, and for pride in
the profession of nursing. 2 The image and
role of the nurse will continue to evolve
in a positive direction when practicing
professional nurses are actively involved
in a relationship with the media. McNally
suggests that these efforts should begin at
an undergraduate level. 6
As the film progresses, the audience begins
to see that Ana is capable of practicing
autonomously, and that she is most certainly
not subservient to other characters. Rather,
Ana carries a leadership role in many
instances throughout the film, such as
independently setting up a triage center
for those who are injured and encouraging
group cohesion to battle attacking zombies.
Ana’s autonomous role begins in the film
once the zombie catastrophe begins.
Context of the Film
Overall, the film Dawn of the Dead presents
a positive image of the nurse. I do, however,
question the context in which this positive
image is portrayed. This popular media
portrayal of the nurse differs from what is
found in the professional nursing literature,
as the nurse in this film is acting within
a fictional world overrun by zombies. Is
the opportunity for the public to view
University of Alberta Health Sciences Journal • April 2012 • Volume 7 • Issue 1 29
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