THERAPEUTIC DOSES OF HUMOR - 2 CONTACT HOURS

Course overview

Humor is a healing force. There is research in a number of fields that supports the health benefits of humor including heart health, diabetes, allergies, and longevity. Humor has also been tied to better coping skills when faced with difficult circumstances like cancer. It can also help buffer the effects of stress. Humor also helps build a sense of community within health care settings?allowing patients to feel more at ease and comfortable with health care providers (HCPs)?and contributes to a sense of connection and trust. Using humor is not only helpful for patients and families, but for nurses as well. Humor can be a powerful form of self-care and can help those who have to work in difficult areas, such as emergency medicine. Examining some of the research conducted on the therapeutic benefits of humor can increase understanding of its usefulness. Exploring various case examples, guidelines, caveats, and common concerns will help make using humor easier. Upon completion of this course, the learner should be able to: 1.Describe at least three possible therapeutic benefits of humor for patients and families and two benefits for nurses in health and coping. 2.Describe two possible therapeutic benefits of humor for patients and families and one for nurses in community and dealing with stress. 3.Develop at least two ways to inject humor and explain how therapeutic humor can be used to enhance and change current nursing practices and determine which three guidelines will be most important to help implement humor in the practice.