Walden University Supports New "Defining Hope" Documentary

Minneapolis—August 24, 2017—Defining Hope, a new documentary about people weighing what matters most at the fragile junctures in life—and the nurses who guide them—will be released in select theaters nationwide for special screenings on November 1, in honor of National Hospice and Palliative Care Month. Walden University is proud to support the new documentary, and through Walden’s support, nurses who attend the screenings in November will receive free continuing nursing education (CNE) credits.

“We recognize the urgent need for hospice and palliative care services has never been greater,” said Jonathan A. Kaplan, president of Walden University. “At Walden, we provide nurses and healthcare professionals with the tools and knowledge to make a difference in the lives of others, and we are proud to partner with Carolyn Jones Productions to jump-start this critical conversation about end-of-life care.”

Defining Hope explores what makes life worth living and what to do—for ourselves and our loved ones—as we get closer to the end of life. Through the stories of patients with life-threatening illness, their loved ones and the nurses and healthcare professionals who guide them, the conversation around quality end-of-life care is brought to the forefront.

“It was always our dream to create a film that would educate and enlighten, and we’re thrilled to have Walden work with us to achieve our goal and further the conversation,” said Carolyn Jones, filmmaker and director.

Defining Hope is produced by Carolyn Jones Productions, the same team that created The American Nurse Project, an award-winning photography book and documentary film celebrating nurses. In addition to Walden University, Defining Hope is made possible through the generous support of the Jonas Center for Nursing and Veterans Healthcare, the American Nurses Foundation, Jeannie Patz Blaustein, and the E. Rhodes and Leona B. Carpenter Foundation. To learn more about the film, visit http://hope.film.

Walden University is accredited as a provider of continuing nursing education through the American Nurses Credentialing Center’s Commission on Accreditation. For more information about Walden University and its programs, visit www.WaldenU.edu.

About Walden University
For more than 45 years, Walden University has supported working professionals in achieving their academic goals and making a greater impact in their professions and their communities. Students from all 50 states in the U.S. and more than 150 countries are pursuing their bachelor’s, master’s or doctoral degrees online at Walden. The university offers more than 85 degree programs with more than 435 specializations and concentrations. Walden University is accredited by The Higher Learning Commission. Walden is one of more than 70 institutions in 25 countries that comprise the Laureate International Universities network. For more information about Walden, visit www.WaldenU.edu.

About Carolyn Jones Productions
Carolyn Jones Productions is best known for producing socially proactive documentary films and photography, using a variety of media tools to create projects that point our attention toward issues of global concern. From people “living positively” with AIDS to women artisans supporting entire communities and nurses on the front lines of our healthcare system, Carolyn Jones Productions is devoted to celebrating invisible populations and breaking down barriers. Jones’ most widely acclaimed book publications include Living Proof: Courage in the Face of AIDS and The American Nurse, which led to a feature documentary included in the U.S. State Department’s American Film Showcase. The company’s newest project, the forthcoming documentary Defining Hope, is the culmination of a journey investigating how we can make better end-of-life choices. For more information about Carolyn Jones Productions, visit www.carolynjones.com.