“Stressed? Why would I be stressed?” Chyna Robinson snapped, stethoscope flung round her neck and scrubs fluttering as she strode, full speed ahead, down the hallway. “We’ve just had two codes, I’ve got an admit with absolutely no paperwork, and I’m one nurse short here. The sitter who was supposed to be watching our suicidal patient fell asleep –we could hear her snoring in the hall! Why would I be stressed?” Chyna’s story is not unique: health care providers are continually being asked to do more — larger patient loads, more intensive treatment — with less resources. The result: stratospheric stress levels.
How do they handle the stress? Experts recommend a number of strategies to minimize the tension, fatigue, and emotional wear inherent in working in a stressful position. These include exercise, meditation, embracing creativity, and Ryanne’s personal favorite, laughter.
“You’ve got to laugh. If you don’t laugh, you’re going to cry, and that doesn’t help anyone.” So much of what a nurse faces is traumatic on the face of it: you’re dealing with people who are sick, dying, injured, hurting and scared. This has an effect on the medical professionals: they often resort to humor, particularly dark humor. The closer we are to tragedy and death, the darker our humor becomes. This is an almost universal response: researchers have documented dark humor use not just among health professionals but in other high-stress, high-trauma situations. Law enforcement and military personnel are renowned for their sick humor, as are firefighters and (perhaps not so strangely!) high school teachers.
Does using humor detract from professionalism? Surprisingly, no. Cracking a laugh may actually enhance one’s ability to perform well in the workplace. Laughter helps eliminate stress and tension from the body, and helps keep even the most stressful situation in perspective. The regular use of humor also encourages quick thinking and mental agility: two traits professionals need to thrive in high-stress environments.
“Some folks don’t like to laugh, they like to complain all the time.” Chyna shrugged. “Really, who’s got time for that?” She’s put her finger directly on a trend. According to Loretta LaRoche, a regular columnist for The Journal of Nursing Jocularity, that sort of complaining has a very negative impact on the workplace. ” Think about the impact this has in the workplace. When we work with other people, as most nurses do, theres a tendency to hook up and share the things that arent working. This sharing actually increases the stress ” I call this practice suffering!”
“Sometimes it’s just the little things that make all the difference,” Chyna concluded. “You get someone that tells you a joke, that can turn a bad mood right around. Or sometimes folks take the funny cartoons out of the paper and pin them up in the breakroom. Gives you a little smile.” There are many low to no cost ways to bring humor into the workplace, and, as Chyna says, even the smallest moments can transform a bad day into a good one. Start small –and you’ll benefit not only yourself but everyone around you!
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