the *right* humor

[trump1]

I recently came across a website thats main purpose was nursing humor. Excited to find such a site, I quickly clicked and browsed my way through stories, links and other various "funny" material. However, it wasn't long into my exploration that I came across some cartoons, videos and stories from nurses that I found inappropriate. As I continued on, they became more offensive and in several instances poked fun at patients who were disabled and in pain. I am sure many of you know the site I'm referring to (as there are very few on nursing humor), and although I appreciate the idea behind the website; I think they are willing to do ANYTHING to get a laugh - even if it at the expense of others. Listen, I'm the class clown - the prankster, and the first one to laugh at a joke. BUT, this sites arena and stage (i.e. nursing) is not the time or the place to sacrifice patient rights, nurse's rights and handicap rights in order to get a laugh. Am I crazy? Does anyone else really have a fire in them about defending the image of nursing. Because, I wrote a letter to the editor and she apparently thinks it's okay to laugh at racist, sexist and rapist jokes. I'm guilty for laughing at inappropriate jokes too - but my POINT is...Is NURSING really the stage for these types of jokes??? Am I crazy?

[mentalhealthRN]

Not sure of the site you are talking about but from what you describe it sounds like it is not professional and needs to be edited. Did you try going above the editor and contacting the person who runs the site? You could always threaten to make the ADA (Americans with Disabilites Association) aware of the site as I am sure they would have a field day! and the American Nurses Association.

Or maybe you should just go ahead and make them aware of the site and let them know your concerns and maybe they will take care of it......

I agree there are a lot of nurses out there who claim to be be caring and compassionate but have no problem making jokes at the patients expense. Try working in psych with some staff who you would think would be non-judgemental and still make jokes and comments......like any of us couln't end up in those patients shoes at any given time......and that goes for medical nursing too. You are not alone in your concern and it is warrented.

[trump1]

Can I mention the site name? Thanks for the suggestions! I already sent a letter to the Nursing Advocacy organization, but didn't get a response...think the org. isn't being managed very much any longer (maybe that'll be my new job!)

I will forward the letter on to the ANA and ADA. Excellent suggestions. I only wanted to tell the editor to be careful, and you should see the response that I got out of her! She was actually really mean to me. Funny, because she's the EDITOR and she's not EDITING herself - so that brought me even more concern to the professionalism behind the site and what damage it could do in the future. So - now I have a new hobbie!

Thanks again, mentalhealthRN

[lilaclover]

What site are you referring too? I tried to look up nursing humor and didn't find anything particularly offensive. Maybe I am not finding the site you were looking at.

[sirI, MSN, APRN, NP]

Can I mention the site name?

Please do not name the site. We do not need the name in order to discuss inappropriate "humor" at the expense of others just to make a buck.

Thanks.

[trump1]

Yeah, I haven't mentioned the site name and don't think that it is important to the point. What I would like to see is us, as a nursing community to be careful with our humor. On a separate thread, another nurse and I talked about our twisted and at times morbid humor - I'm not saying by any means we should ditch that alleviator of stress and pressure. I am saying, I am hoping we can keep it private, under wraps and between each other, between professionals and confidants. And, should we come across material that offends nurses or patient rights - we be vigilant and defend ourselves! I have written a letter to the ANA, the ADA and the Nursing advocacy group. I believe our position as health care professionals is really up to us. How far we take it is up to us. We've seen nurses disrespected. I think a lot of nurses have worked VERY hard to establish respect and dignity to the title "Nurse." I don't want to see all that hard work to go waste because we stopped fighting for ourselves. Because some less than professional person doesn't appreciate this. Did I mention the editor who replied back doesn't have a degree in Nursing? And she is the filter to the information being posted. That's unbelievable, right? She has no idea what she's doing!!

[TylerDurdenRN]

WHere is the right "stage" for humor, should we ban Fat jokes cause it may offend a overweight person, should we ban lawyer jokes cause it may offend a lawyer, should we ban all political jokes cause it may offend a politician. Do you see where Im going.

Are they breaking HIPAA laws? are they even hinting at patients names, hospital names, coworkers names? Or are they just creating jokes off what could be real and hypothetical situations of nursing?

What makes you or anyone else the singular authority on what everyone else considers funny and appropriate if the jokes do not violate any laws. There are jokes I think are beyond the point I consider appropriate, but others find quite funny, so I let it be, cause it did no harm to me. Jokes made in my name, if it has done no real harm and is good humor is also fine, cause again, what harm has it done. NONE.

People has a narcissistic point of view on there lives sometime that is frustrating to understand, if someone makes a joke or is making fun of a situation, they are not talking about your situation, but you relate to the situation, and thus feel connected to the situation and become offended. Why? WHat harm? What result are you hoping for by reporting this? An ego boost? A sense of satisfaction?

Perhaps you can forget about the website, move on and continue being the RN you are today without worrying about what some random 1 of a trillion website has posted. Being thick skinned is probably one of the greatest assets of human can have today, and the appreciation of everyone else's varying sense of humor along with your own may help too.

Now if the site is using real patient names or hint toward names, and using hospital names and staff names, then some censorship probably would be for the better, if not, let someone else laugh.

Cause we all do something that probably offends someone somewhere, but we just don't know about it.

[thinkertdm]

I disagree 100%. Making inappropriate jokes about people and their misfortunes only breeds an atmosphere of disrespect that will eventually affect patient care.

It has nothing to do with being offensive, it has to do with respect, both given and earned. You are reducing (or allowing it to be reduced) the value of humans, and it makes me question the integrity of anyone, especially a health care professional, who finds such material amusing.

Additionally, the fact that you do nothing because it doesn't harm you personally, is disturbing.

[Belle Epoque]

Oh, for goodness sake, the internet is full of garbage, do we really need to control everything until it meets our level of satisfaction? Here's a thought --- if you don't like it, don't look at it!

[linearthinker, DNP, RN]

Agree w/ Belle. I'd have to read it to see it if is really OTT, but for the most part I think people are just addicted to being offended, lol/

[trump1]

It's funny because both you and the editor that wrote me back with the assumption that I don't have a sense of humor - when I've literally been given awards for my humor. but...

I see what your saying TylerDurdenRN. I still think it's wrong for licensed professionals to joke about the disabled or people in need of our expertise. Its like a pilot joking about how he's going to crash the plane before take off. To other pilots - they might laugh at the joke, but the passengers would flip out!

Why then is it okay for us, as professionals to dismiss how vulnerable our patients are to OUR expertise, to OUR professionalism?

And to counterpoint - When DO YOU stop laughing? When DO YOU stop the bully? I mean, this site is using the nursing title while making fun of the disabled - I can't believe that your okay with that!?

I'm glad you responded because people need to see this. This is a good discussion to be having.

[rockabye]

I have never been to this site, but there are many nurses with a morbid sense of humor. I think some nurses take it too far, but we do this in private away from patients/families and it does help alleviate the tensions of a serious and stressful job. If you don't like it, don't look at it. There is still something called freedom of speech.