Throughout the film, Nurse Ratched demonstrates many behaviors that are opposite of appropriate nursing management and effective professional communication. First, she uses the patients as an excuse to control everything and explain many of her meaningless actions. One example is the scene where she tells Mac that she cannot turn the volume of the music down because other patients will not like it (Forman, 1975, 0:26:05). She establishes rules and regulations that do not contribute to patients’ treatment in any way and are only used to demonstrate her power and keep them under control. Some examples of this are the music that has to constantly play in the hangout room and the toothpaste that is always locked away as if patients can use it as a weapon. Finally, the treatment itself that Nurse Ratched chooses is not aimed at therapy and rehabilitation of the patients as much as it is used to make them submissive.
Nurse Ratched is managing conflict by using her bureaucratic power to threaten the patients and manipulate them, often exploiting their greatest fears and desires. An example of this is a scene where she threatens to tell Billy’s mother what he has done (Forman, 1975, 1:45:43). This is evident in all her interactions, as she uses shame, guilt, and her condescending tone to demean and dehumanize patients.
There are numerous other examples of nursing malpractice in the film. For instance, Nurse Ratched does not only demonstrate unethical practices in relation to her patients; she treats doctors and other medical personnel in this manner. Manipulated by her, doctors do not diagnose and treat patients appropriately; they do it in a way that will benefit Nurse Ratched’s interests and maintain order in her ward.
Reference
Forman, M. (Director). (1975). One Flew Over the Cuckoo’s Nest [film]. Fantasy Films.