Are small jokes accepted?

2ndCareerRN · Jul 25, 2005

Frankie,

One small bit of advice........

Keep your day job.

Unless you can read people 100%, in a matter of seconds, it is best to leave the jokes behind during clinicals.

bob

brazuca · Jul 25, 2005

Frankie,
One small bit of advice........
Keep your day job.
Unless you can read people 100%, in a matter of seconds, it is best to leave the jokes behind during clinicals.
bob

What happened to "the best medicine is laughter?" LOL

"keep my day job" Now that was funny!! Nice going Bob, maybe you too will have a career in comedy.

nursey_girl · Jul 25, 2005

keep in mind, we need to be able to read our patients... but also we need to know if they can understand us... it's embarrassing to have to repeat yourself esp if it's a corny joke... but all in all... laughter can be the best medicine, and I find that my patients for the most part appreciate having a lightened moment...

CashewLPN, LPN · Jul 25, 2005

uh... jokings fine, heck, I play around all the time,

but, in the wild and wooley world of medicine, I will give you a creed you should always follow...

Thou shalt not misrepresent yourself. Never Ever Ever.

Ever.

If your nursing instructor were to get word of it as a spoken joke amongst classmates, I'm sure nothing would happen...

If they were to get word of it happening on the hospital floor, you'd be written up in just under a heartbeat. Its also extremely illegal, and theres more than a few people who'd like to hang we of the medical professions.

ok, thats my spiel...

Questions/comments/concerns, feel free to PM

--Cashew

stidget99 · Jul 25, 2005

I love to laugh. Period. With that in mind............I will go into a pt's room...maybe a fresh hip or knee....and tell them that they are going to have to run the hurdles down the hallway. Or...."All the pts w/ hips/knees are going to have a walker race and my $$ is on you to win!!!" Or before I am about to do an IV stick I will say...."Now you don't believe in hitting nurses, do you???" :rotfl: :rotfl: :rotfl:

Now not all pts are open to laughter and/or joking. But I think that any intelligent person would be able to sense if joking around is appropriate or not. I also believe that laughter or joking around can relieve some tension that a pt might be prior to an IV stick or prior to the first time getting up while using a walker.

I honestly believe that how well a person heals or "bounces back" is directly related to their state of mind. And having a positive state of mind can come from laughter. Hence, I think that laughter is the best medicine or at least a big part of it. However, doing anything like that in clinicals may not be appropriate unless of course you have an instructor w/ an awesome sense of humor.

Cute_CNA, CNA · Jul 25, 2005

I think it's best to sit back and observe the other party's behavior, and figure out what they think is appropriate to joke about before joking. For example, if they tell jokes about animals, then there's an avenue for you to try around them. It's not required, but I think it's best to just observe first to gauge what they think is funny.

Of course, there are limitations, which I'm sure you're aware of. Sexual, sexist, racist, bigoted, and other types of offensive jokes are NEVER okay. Never ever. Not even if that person makes jokes inappropriately--don't act in turn. Don't joke about patients' conditions or diagnoses around that patient, but if they want to joke about themselves, that's fine. And of course, don't make jokes about patients to or around other patients.

I would strongly recommend that you didn't pretend to be a doctor, even if you're "just kidding," because you never know who might say that you're trying to act like you have credentials that you don't actually have. Some people do not have a sense of humor. Unfortunately. :uhoh3:

If you have a sarcastic sense of humor, look out for people who seem overly sensitive to criticism. Sometimes they can't tell what is humor and what isn't.

Don't make jokes about anything that you know certain people are sensitive about, even though you don't mean harm.

If a person seems distressed about something, joking around may be interpreted as you not caring about their current state of mind, not being observant, or are just not taking them seriously. Talk to the distressed person, and then maybe joke a bit after the patient has relaxed some.

Any time the person you're talking with begins to look uncomfortable, stop joking and get serious again. If it seems warranted, apologize.

Never make jokes about your colleagues to patients, because that might seem like you're doing it maliciously. Additionally, try to refrain from making jokes about colleagues to other colleagues, because that might seem like you're gossiping... again... to be malicious. Gossip can and will come back to haunt you, so it's best not to do it. I have picked on some of the people I work with, but they understand that I'm joking with them, and sometimes I come out and explain that I'm just joking with them because I feel comfortable around them.

Good luck!

SmilingBluEyes · Jul 25, 2005

uh... jokings fine, heck, I play around all the time,
but, in the wild and wooley world of medicine, I will give you a creed you should always follow...
Thou shalt not misrepresent yourself. Never Ever Ever.
Ever.
If your nursing instructor were to get word of it as a spoken joke amongst classmates, I'm sure nothing would happen...
If they were to get word of it happening on the hospital floor, you'd be written up in just under a heartbeat. Its also extremely illegal, and theres more than a few people who'd like to hang we of the medical professions.
ok, thats my spiel...
Questions/comments/concerns, feel free to PM
--Cashew

that "spiel" is very good advice. I suggest the OP follow it.

to the OP, good luck!

Tweety, BSN, RN · Jul 25, 2005

Having a sunny disposition and joking and kidding around is o.k. Just be careful not to be overbearing. A person sick in the hospital might not be in the mood for joking around, but rather want someone profressional and friendly.

I would develop a rapport before barging into the room as a comedian. Get a feel for the patient's disposition and respect that. Don't feel it's your mission to make them laugh.

Be mindful of things you should and shouldn't joke about.

emsboss · Jul 25, 2005

MOST clinical instructors take a dim view of joking around:angryfire ...ESPECIALLY if you misrepresent yourself..."I am your gynecologist". The pt may hear only these words and not the rest. NOT a good thing. Like has been said in former posts..."feel" the pt's sense of humor out. There are some GRUMPS out there!!!!!!

JVanRN · Jul 25, 2005

Nothing wrong with joking...but if you came into my room and said the example you gave I would probably give you a clueless look with a tilt of the head. When you type it out I get it...but its not really that funny to me. No I wouldn't be offended by it or complain...I would just think you were kind of odd. But that's me.

Like other's have said, I wouldn't misrepresent myself in anyway. I know you are not trying to do that and you're just trying to be light hearted but not everyone thinks that way. Especially when they are sick and in the hospital. You would be suprised at what people get mad and offended by.

Just the other day I was taking care of a baby in NICU. Well the baby was about to be discharged the next day. He was doing great. The baby also had the smelliest toots (flatulence). The parents came to visit him and mom thought he had dirtied his diaper and checked it. I had informed her that no he just has gas and made a small crack about how he may be a sweet little baby but he sure can pass gas like a grown man. The dad was laughing at this and saying "yeah just like his daddy" and calling him "Mr. Fartypants" (this was the dad...not me) Mom took this as I was saying her darling infant was gross or something...she was not amused:rolleyes:. And these were parents I was familiar with, I didn't think that would upset her, but it did. Like I said, you would be suprised at what can be deemed as offensive by some. I definately did NOT see that one coming.

Humour is fine...just feel out the situation and use common sense.

Laurlaur · Jul 25, 2005

I wouldnt call myself a comedian, but I eventually love to make little jokes. Is there some kind of rule that perhibits small jokes with patients?
Example: I just thought about this one today....
I'm male, so in many cases I assume that patients may think I'm a doctor instead of a nurse, so then I go into my patients room that I am assigned to by my clinical instructor and say... Hello Mr. Smith I'm Dr. Frankie your gynecologist LOL!!! Just kidding Im your nurse and Im here to give you a bed bath!!! (Im cracking up, just by writing this junk) THIS IS JUST AN EXAMPLE, I DID NOT DO THIS.
So, the question is.... how would your clinical instructor take this? Is it OK? Or its absolutely not tolerated.

Well Frankie you cracked me up!! If I ever happen to be unlucky enough to land in hospital I hope I have someone like you to cheer me up! I work in Paeds in the UK, and especially when parents are very tense, stressed etc it works wonders to have someone lighten the mood and help them smile. Pick your moments though, and never be insensitive. I'm sure that you will be an asset if you can bring some light into your patients' lives.