n a tio n a l
Using humour as therapy in clinical practice ith all the doom and gloom around in the media, I believe a positive, optimistic, and opportunistic approach to nursing is long overdue. A time of change is perceived by most as threatening; only a few see it as a time of opportunity. The darkened glass of insecur ity clouds the latent positive therapeutic possibilities, both for patients and professionals. As nurses we should be grasping the opportunities that are available to us as a result of our changing roles and responsibilities using the backing of the power of our individual accountability. We must take definite steps to extend the functions that fall under the umbrella of the caring role. The following concepts form the essence of being hu man: spirituality, sexuality and humour. Aspects of our caring role relating to these concepts are conspicuously underdeveloped, c.g. caring for the sexual and spiritual needs of patients. Humour is underused and I would like to express a few thoughts on its place in nursing. As a staff nurse I remember working on a medical ward on night duty and being reprimanded by a senior nurse for sitting with patients and making them laugh using humour as an aspect of my care. 1 was told to get on with ‘real’ work. Feedback from my patients left me in no doubt about the value of humour so I continu ed to utilize its therapeutic qualities. 1 therefore ignored my senior nurse at the risk of being labelled lazy. In the 15 years since then I have seen little to convince me that humour is taught, talked about or translated into practice to an extent where one could say its full therapeutic potential is being used by nurses. Only occa sional articles are written about it which is unfortunate because many nurses use it very effectively. However, by not writing about it, other nurses are not learning from their colleagues’ experiences. In many areas of care, especially in care of the dying, humour can prove a useful and acceptable tool in the interpersonal and communication aspects of care. Many
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strong emotions can be reduced or relieved with skilful and appropriate use of humour. Stress and anxiety, frus tration, anger and fear, both in patients and nurses, can also be dealt with effectively. It is an excellent defence mechanism. Embarrassing and awkward situations can often be overcome. The physical act of laughter itself has physiological effects that can prove beneficial. Bearing in mind all the possible benefits, is it not time to take humour seriously? Nurse educators should not only start teaching about humour but also teach with humour. Students’ learning will be improved and they will enjoy the process. Such students will have little dif ficulty in accepting the value of humour in caring. Clinical nurses should learn from colleagues who are ‘naturals’ at this aspect of care. They should encourage each other by providing positive support in the develop ment of this skill. Let us publish for others to learn from our experiences. More importantly, let us sec, listen and feel what our patients do, say and show. They are our audiences. Let us perform for their pleasure. Let them applaud us for a complete and integrated (holistic) performance. Their level of applause (evaluation) will tell us in no uncertain terms whether to laugh or cry. Irrespective of whether some nurses continue to give only physical, task-related care, let the rest of us care for the human in every being and laugh and grow together. Ruhi Behi Director o f Postregistration Studies School of Nursing Studies University o f Wales Bangor
Rosenberg L (1989) A delicate dose of humour. Ed No 2 N u n l-orum 24(2): 3-7 Simon JM (1989) Humour techniques for oncology nurses. Oncol Nurs Forum 16(5): 667-70
STARTING NEXT ISSUE New series on first aid and emergency care for nurses Topics to be covered include: General behaviour at first-aid scene Airway/breathing Circulation Cardiac arrest 1Law and ethics 484
Neurology Fractures Psychology Gastroenterology K n ife /g u n s h o t
Eye
ENT Dental emergencies Children Environment
wounds British by Journal of Nursing, on 1992,Vol 10 Downloaded from magonlinelibrary.com 130.237.122.245 Januaryl,N 16,o 2019.
Using humour as therapy in clinical practice ith all the doom and gloom around in the media, I believe a positive, optimistic, and opportunistic approach to nursing is long overdue. A time of change is perceived by most as threatening; only a few see it as a time of opportunity. The darkened glass of insecur ity clouds the latent positive therapeutic possibilities, both for patients and professionals. As nurses we should be grasping the opportunities that are available to us as a result of our changing roles and responsibilities using the backing of the power of our individual accountability. We must take definite steps to extend the functions that fall under the umbrella of the caring role. The following concepts form the essence of being hu man: spirituality, sexuality and humour. Aspects of our caring role relating to these concepts are conspicuously underdeveloped, c.g. caring for the sexual and spiritual needs of patients. Humour is underused and I would like to express a few thoughts on its place in nursing. As a staff nurse I remember working on a medical ward on night duty and being reprimanded by a senior nurse for sitting with patients and making them laugh using humour as an aspect of my care. 1 was told to get on with ‘real’ work. Feedback from my patients left me in no doubt about the value of humour so I continu ed to utilize its therapeutic qualities. 1 therefore ignored my senior nurse at the risk of being labelled lazy. In the 15 years since then I have seen little to convince me that humour is taught, talked about or translated into practice to an extent where one could say its full therapeutic potential is being used by nurses. Only occa sional articles are written about it which is unfortunate because many nurses use it very effectively. However, by not writing about it, other nurses are not learning from their colleagues’ experiences. In many areas of care, especially in care of the dying, humour can prove a useful and acceptable tool in the interpersonal and communication aspects of care. Many
W
strong emotions can be reduced or relieved with skilful and appropriate use of humour. Stress and anxiety, frus tration, anger and fear, both in patients and nurses, can also be dealt with effectively. It is an excellent defence mechanism. Embarrassing and awkward situations can often be overcome. The physical act of laughter itself has physiological effects that can prove beneficial. Bearing in mind all the possible benefits, is it not time to take humour seriously? Nurse educators should not only start teaching about humour but also teach with humour. Students’ learning will be improved and they will enjoy the process. Such students will have little dif ficulty in accepting the value of humour in caring. Clinical nurses should learn from colleagues who are ‘naturals’ at this aspect of care. They should encourage each other by providing positive support in the develop ment of this skill. Let us publish for others to learn from our experiences. More importantly, let us sec, listen and feel what our patients do, say and show. They are our audiences. Let us perform for their pleasure. Let them applaud us for a complete and integrated (holistic) performance. Their level of applause (evaluation) will tell us in no uncertain terms whether to laugh or cry. Irrespective of whether some nurses continue to give only physical, task-related care, let the rest of us care for the human in every being and laugh and grow together. Ruhi Behi Director o f Postregistration Studies School of Nursing Studies University o f Wales Bangor
Rosenberg L (1989) A delicate dose of humour. Ed No 2 N u n l-orum 24(2): 3-7 Simon JM (1989) Humour techniques for oncology nurses. Oncol Nurs Forum 16(5): 667-70
STARTING NEXT ISSUE New series on first aid and emergency care for nurses Topics to be covered include: General behaviour at first-aid scene Airway/breathing Circulation Cardiac arrest 1Law and ethics 484
Neurology Fractures Psychology Gastroenterology K n ife /g u n s h o t
Eye
ENT Dental emergencies Children Environment
wounds British by Journal of Nursing, on 1992,Vol 10 Downloaded from magonlinelibrary.com 130.237.122.245 Januaryl,N 16,o 2019.
