You Should Try This, Nurses!
Stress is one major factor that greatly affects any nurses out there. Stress that results from shifting schedules, loaded patients, and task schedules that need to be done. And so, nurses seems to forget how to smile often not only in front of their patients, but to their colleagues and doctors as well.
Laughter, as they say, is the best medicine. Humor is important but often underutilized in a nurse-patient interaction. Laughter is one form of physical exercise that lowers blood pressure and heart rate. It jas many benefits like improving lung capacity, massages internal organs, increases memory and alertness, reduces pain, and lowers the stress hormones, which most nurses do need.
So if laughter is so beneficial, why is it that nurses don't laugh often and always possess the strict librarian-look? Afraid to look foolish maybe? Thinking that other people may see you as a crazy nurse that will attend to their needs? Or assuming that your patient may say that the situation is not a laughing matter? Well, whatever the reason maybe, it's not valid enough to put out the 'happy laugh' in you nurses.
Laugh, nurses. It's not a crime to laugh. It actually is contagious. Yes. You see your patient may feel more lighted and alive when they see a smile on their nurse face or hear a genuine laugh from them. This attitude or gesture of nurses will lighten their mood and may make their day. It's better than seeing nurses with a frown in your face, or a zombie-like face that could haunt them all day and might result to being afraid to ever see a nurse again.
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There are many ways to incorporate laughter in a nurse's everyday life.
1. Nurses should list all things that makes them laugh.
2. Watch funny movies, cartoon or bloopers.
3. Look at old funny pictures of you, family, or friends.
4. Crack a joke to your patients and co-nurses.
5. List jokes that appeal to you and share it to other nurses by creating a humor bulletin in your nurse station so that everyone can read it.
6. Try to organize a comedy night or best joke contest amongst you nurses.
7. Add a pinch of comedy in a simple conversation with co-nurses and patients.
8. Make-face in front of your co-nurses. Surely someone will burst out a laugh.
9. Read humor books or funny greeting cards at book stores or novelty shops.
10. Watch and listen to childrens laughter. You 'll be surprised that you are later joining them laughing their heart out.
Remember nurses, laughter do make you look and feel young again. So tickle those funny bones and laugh. Laugh until tears come out of your eyes nurses. Laugh until you feel relaxed and stress-free. Laugh until all the other people in the room laugh too. It's not a sin to laugh. It's dead serious case that you don't laugh at all.
Published at: 10/08/2015
