Survey: Do you use humor to help put your patients at ease?

[Brian]

This months survey Question...

Do you use humor to help put your patients at ease?

Here are the results from this survey out of 1742 respondents:

3.59% - No

96.41% - Yes

We encourage your comments and discussion on this question. Please share how you use humor with your patients, or why you think humor should not be used.

To post your comments, just click on the "Post Reply" button.nullnull

[ May 15, 2001: Message edited by: bshort ]

[SamHill]

Yes. All the time. One bit that I do all the time is that when we are transporting a post-op from the gurney to the bed, I do the standard routine "Cross your arms, let us do all the work. On the count of three we will pull you over. When I say 'three', I want you to say "Weeeeeee"." Most do it. :) The ones that don't I usually say 'That wasn't too bad was it?" When they say "No", I'll ask if they want to do it again? Most respond with an emphatic 'NOOO!'.

[Sunny01]

I charge night shift and along with humor I try very hard to guard our patients' sleep. That is extremely hard to do, however, for obvious reasons. When I must go in to disturb their sleep I usually use the standard joke with them that I'll be back in after they've gone to sleep to give them a sleeping pill. It eases the annoyance a bit, usually.

I like that joke! I will use it with my patients now that I know it...he he. I usually try and use humor, see how the patient responds, then use it some more. Most of the patients enjoy it and I love seeing a smile on their faces.

[EmerNurse, BSN, RN]

I am fortunate enough to work with an amazing crew of nurses, techs, secretary and admit folks. I very very frequently use humor with patients (when appropriate of course),and there are times, when myself and a tech perhaps, and whoever else will all be around the patient at once. Heaven help the dear patient, who gets a private showing of one of our impromptu comedy routines! LOL - I have a great group of co-workers, we know each other and can play off each other relentlessly.

You get the "hey bob, wow those are great veins!" Pt smiles! "Great? get the garden hose catheter, I always wanted to try that one!" "OH no you don't, last time you did that I limped for a week!" At this point the patient generally has lost it and we have too - and they're IV'd, lab'd up, cathed, on the monitor, vital signed and ready to rock. We sure do have fun.

Mind - ONLY when appropriate - we guage our behavior on patient cues and start *gently*. If it doesn't seem to fly, we get calm, comforting and more serious.

Half the reason I love my job is my great co-workers!

[Kidrn911]

depends on situation

[Liliana98]

I would love to but I am not a very funny person. By reading other people's posts though I can see how much fun it could be...so I will give it a try. Great idea!