Reduce Stress & Burnout With Medical Humor

There is nothing to smile about when we enter a doctor's office. Hospital beds never tickle our fancy, and mentioning nursing homes never seem to make us guffaw. But we as medical professionals are in these sterile environments almost every day, and sometimes heading to work may seem bleak or dull.

But, suppose we were on the other side of things, and we had to spend our days lying in bed, waiting on a recovery that may unfortunately never come. Surely, we would want some humor to help pass the time and lift our spirits. Because of this need, studies have shown that a little humor can do more than just put a smile on our faces. It actually has some potential healing power for patients as well.

According to the Journal for Pre-Health Affiliated Students, there are several mechanisms that can improve body function. It notes that "one mechanism is by way of rigorous laughter, which can lead to reduced muscle tension and exercise for the heart, as well as to endorphin production and enriched blood". In this way, it serves as a domino effect, because the more the person continues to laugh, the better they will feel, seeking more laughter, which will eventually cause them to feel more relaxed. Kind of makes you rethink all of those angry episodes in your life, doesn't it? But, being at ease, this would certainly aid in lessening the risk of heart attack and stroke because the body is calmer.

The journal of Current Directions in Psychological Science echoes these findings, suggesting that not only does laughter have relaxing power, but humor may actually help to build up immunity. This is most likely attributed to a reduction in stress levels, which aid in good circulation and adequate white blood cell production. If these levels remain steady, the individual is that much more likely to promptly fight off infection.

However, it really doesn't take a neurosurgeon (although if you are, that's fine too) to figure out that patients in any setting would respond well to a good attitude and a humorous personality. Taking steps to provide a lighter atmosphere can be subtle in nature. Children in a pediatrician's office might be less nervous if they are able to read the jokes in a Highlights magazine before their visit. Or, hospital patients might enjoy some humorous posters on the walls of their room, rather than just looking at that big hunk of lime Jell-O.

Humor does not only provide a lighter atmosphere, but it also tends to increase the trust between medical personnel and patients, if done correctly. Tasteful humor puts the patient at ease, which would allow them to feel more comfortable in vulnerable situations. A joke used to break the ice can make someone sitting there half naked in a hospital gown feel uplifted and happy to divulge what is bothering them.

So, for all you medical professionals out there, if you really want to be healers, let's keep 'em in stitches in more ways than one!

No matter the line-of-work, jobs can become monotonous, stressful, and downright mundane. Health care workers may find all of the above to be true, but they probably will also tell you that in their line of work, they deal with depressing issues, and maybe even fear, when having to deal with illness and death on a regular basis. It is a line of work that has the potential to leave someone feeling mentally exhausted and drained at the end of the day.

Some people might think that in a health care environment, humor is not an appropriate way to address stresses. But actually the contrary is true. The medical field is just as an appropriate field as any other, maybe even more so. Humor can keep workers motivated, keep them uplifted, and help them feel better about what they do for a living when faced with such devastation as death and destruction.

Humor brings people together - it creates a unified work place, and helps in the development of a strong rapport among colleagues. These are qualities in the work environment that employers often try to develop through seminars and other forms of team-building exercises and events. Light humor in the work place can accomplish as much as these team-building workshops (and, incidentally, won't cost the employer a dime). Simply by encouraging the use of humor among the employees, the work atmosphere can become a place that is enjoyable and a more pleasurable place to work.

Humor doesn't have to be the center of attention, it can be as simple as a funny cartoon taped to the side of the computer, a book of jokes left open for everyone to browse through, or an innocent prank pulled on another co-worker. Whatever the occasion, humor can be added into everyday tasks to keep the day from losing momentum. Because humor is the driving force behind a work relationship, without it, a workplace can quickly become stale and unappealing to the employees. And it can quickly become a place of dread and dismay. Humor has a way of lightening the mood in the workplace and fostering a lighthearted environment. It lets the employees know that their place of work is a safe place to be, rather than a tens, nail-biting experience for eight-to-twelve hours out of their day. It lets the employees have a little fun while still dealing with serious and, often times, very emotional situations.

When humor is allowed to be peppered into the work environment, rather than creating a stale or strict environment, employers have noticed higher rate of attendance at work. Their employees tend to be happier, more motivated, and have a more positive attitude towards their job. This, in turn, leads to longer terms of employment with the hospital, company, or organization.

All it takes is a little effort by the employer to bring a smile to the employees' faces by letting them know that humor is not only acceptable, but encouraged. When you create this atmosphere, you not only have happier employees, but you have happier patients. Humor is a gift to the health care workforce that spreads quickly from workers to patients, and if used appropriately, it can create a happier, healthier environment for everyone.

This might seem odd on a healthcare humor page, but the fact is, humor is a part of being human. And healthcare is all about people.

If you want to be a good practitioner of your craft, you need to establish a good rapport with people... patients, colleagues, families, Joint Commissioners :), etc. Humor, if done appropriately, can rapidly accelerate rapport.

Although the page that sells the How To Be Funny (in 7 Days) eBook is a bit salesy, the content of the book is worth it.

Better rapport with your patients and your colleagues leads to improved morale for you and for them. It decreases burnout and even lawsuits.

Check this book out: How To Be Funny (in 7 Days)