When, where, how, how not to, with whom, is it working, why you should care…
Part 2: Humor and the HCP
Healthcare Professional
o Humor is underutilizedo Nurses are socialized to be seriouso It’s a skill that many haven’t developed
Research of Humor BenefitsLaughing lowers glucoseReduces stress, painImproves immune functionUsed as a weight-loss therapyAllows for expression of anger Minimizes professional burnoutTurns “ha, ha” into an “aha” momentLaugh-learn connectionSocial lubricant in groups
Possible Side Effects Can be hurtful
Someone can be offended
Can distract from the message
Can promote anger, prevent communication, increase anxiety, widen interpersonal gaps.
Avoid these by keeping humor lighthearted.
Contraindications
During a crisis, such as high anxiety or serious discussion (may be more distracting and aggravating than tension relieving)
During complex tasks(it is important not to stick humor in the middle of a task requiring full concentration)
Developing Your Humor
1. Know the benefits.2. Identify and avoid inappropriate humor. 3. What is comfortable for you? Be
genuine.4. Do a humor history. 5. Take risks to add more humor.
It’s a process not an event.6. Allow yourself to be silly.7. Hang out with humorous, positive
people.8. Learn to laugh at yourself! (From Smith, Kevin. Humor. Complementary/Alternative Therapies in
Nursing,
2nd Edition, page 276. Used with permission.)
What Do You See?
OPPORTUNITYISNOWHERE
• Pt. population, gender, age, culture, goals
• Case studies
Part 3: Specific Diabetes Issues
Environment for Humor
TimingReceptivenessContent
Strategies for Humor
§ Watch who is the punch line§ Use common experiences and
annoyances§ Less is more§ Use the rule of threes
(2 expected associations, 3rd unexpected)
§ Relate the humor to your patient / audience
§ Practice! § Keep a notebook Adapted from: Secrets of Connecting Leadership & Learning with Humor, by Peter M.
Jonas
Patient Assessment and 1:1 Test the waters: during greeting, assess
readiness for humor. Are they receptive to humor? Watch their eyes. Alert? Look away? Ask if humor is helpful. Listen to the tonal quality of laugh. Apologize if offense taken. A patient’s humorous manner may signal
an unstated wish to talk about feelings.
Groups and Goal Setting Encourages participants to have fun,
open up and take risks. Can provide insight into the group. Humor can accentuate the discrepancy
within a problem and facilitate goals. Tell a short, humorous story or joke.
Share a cartoon; create a caption Use ice-breakers, props
Use open-ended questions, voting, small- group activities, role-playing.
Children Should look quite different Playfulness, body humor, music and facial expressionsStudy of type 1 children (ages 4-11) re: the expectations for quality nursing care:*humane and reliable*have a good sense of humor*wear colorful clothes*Tell funny stories
Adolescents
May interpret the humor as making fun of them.
Use cautiously after a relationship is established.
Use matter-of-fact use of humor.They expect us to have a sense of humor
and to know what we are doing.
Older Adults
Aging is associated with loss, except one’s sense of humor.
Humor often relates to issues of loss.
Use humor when providing nutrition info.
Gender
Limited studiesResponse to laughter…
Men vs. women (humor vs. self-disclosure).
Funniness ratings of cartoon humor showed no differencefor age, sex, region or origin.
Younger participants and males found cartoons more amusing.
Cultural Issues
Understand humor preferences within a culture.
Native Americans have a great sense of humor; may be more subtle.
Non-Natives need to allowtime for trust (often this will be evident when thepatient uses humor).