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).