American School of Laughter Yoga

Laughter Yoga is a joyful and healthy exercise regime for all based on sound scientific principles and a truth that all children know: laughter makes you feel better. Laugh alone, join a laughter club or laugh with your colleagues at work and discover how laughter in the workplace can boost efficiency & profits!

You can learn more about laughter yoga on the American School of Laughter Yoga website They have great articles about the health benefits of laughter, thoughts on how laughter can help the workplace, trainings, classes, and lots of resources.

Nurse Marge in Charge

Dear Nurse Marge,

So here’s the story: I work in a LTC facility. I’m helping a patient move from her bed to her chair, and along the way, I stepped in something — I don’t know what, but the floor was slippery — and down I went, bringing the patient along with me.

When we untangled, it turns out that my patient sustained a sprained wrist (it’s a miracle she didn’t break it, she is very fragile) My NM said, after the fact, that had I just let go of the patient, she wouldn’t have fallen. I feel terrible! Yes, I should have let go of her, but I didn’t think of that, what with falling and all.

Now this is eating me up. How do I handle this situation? I’m beginning to think that nursing’s not for me.

Signed,

Guilt Ridden

Dear Guilt Ridden,

You’re feeling this bad for a sprained wrist? Wait until you try to move that patient and you’re standing on the foley tube and out it comes — bulb inflated! That, dear Guilt Ridden, is guilt.

Well, except for this one patient who got a very strange gleam in his eye and asked me how much he’d be charged if I could only please just do that again…that wasn’t guilt I felt as I foisted him off on a student nurse…I mean, created a learning opportunity for an up and coming professional.

Back to the point here, mistakes happen. Yes, you could have split second timing and super awareness to help you remember to let go of the patient who needed your help to remain upright — but there’s no guarantee she wouldn’t have fallen if you did let go of her. Look at it this way: if we take it as a given that she was going to fall (which is why you were helping her!) then holding on to her was exactly the right thing to do — because you could control the direction and speed of her fall! And you also provided a soft landing pad, by creatively deploying your own body! Florence Nightengale couldn’t have done it better, and you tell your NM I said that.

So dust off your dignity, straighten your spine, and get back in there! You’re not the first nurse to have this happen, and you’re not the last nurse this will happen to. It’s just another moment in the long line of nursing history, part of our proud tradition.

Let the guilt go.

At least until the next time!

Good Luck!

Nurse Marge

Top Ten Signs Your Patient is Really A Nurse

10. Records her own I&O (and her roommate’s!)

9. Makes her own bed, complete with hospital corners.

8. Reads her own chart to make sure no one wrote ‘obese’ in it.

7. Takes her own pulse while you take her temperature.

6. Asks if he is to be *NPO* tonight.

5. Strolls over to the nurses’ station to answer phones when she’s bored.

4. Calls out suggestions to the code team when his roommate arrests.

3. Takes out her own IV or foley catheter.

2. Uses the telephone to call the nurses’ station if no one answers her call light.

1. Has a tattoo on her chest that reads “NO CPR.”

Star Charts by Suzanne LaBarne

Horoscopes just for Nurses!

Libra

Lucky Libra has a fantastic week lined up. The stars are shining in your favor! Be open to new, exciting opportunities — but pass on that once-in-a-lifetime chance your patient offers you to get in on the ground floor of a promising investment opportunity.

Scorpio

Having the swine flu shot may be followed by miscarriage, death, or stroke — and guess who gets the lucky job of explaining to the patients that yes, they still need the shot, and no, all these after effects aren’t necessarily connected to it? It won’t be you if you’re smart about it, Scorpio — we suggest a conveniently timed code far, far away from that conversation.

Sagittarius

Conflict with co-workers makes this a challenging week. Maintaining professionalism is hard; resisting temptation when you google the worst offenders and find out what they’re doing when they’re not at work is even harder. Be careful what you research; you may find out more than you want to know.

Capricorn

Order and organization are your watchwords this week, Capricorn. Either you’re going to impose some on your life or someone’s going to impose some for you. The results are surprisingly refreshing; a change of this sort has been needed for a while.

Aquarius

Love is a many splendored thing, Aquarius — and stepping into that semi-private room at the wrong moment will reveal splendors you never needed to think about. We recommend knocking at all costs!

Pisces

Animals abound in your chart: we’re not sure if that means you’ll be treating animal bites and entertaining companion dogs in the waiting room or a trip to the zoo is in your immediate future…oh, wait. You’re a nurse! Every day is like a trip to the zoo!

Aries

Low tech is the new rage in body building, Aries — you could cash in on the trend by having the PT/OT crew have their patients carry your bag to the car at the end of the shift. What does that thing weigh? 800 pounds? It might be time to lighten up!

Taurus

Patience is a virtue, and apparently there are no virtuous people in the waiting room. This week, that could prove problematic — but if you choose to embrace the positive side of the situation, think of all the money you’ll save by not having to buy tickets to Cirque du Soliel — or Roller Derby — or the taping of the next Jerry Springer movie. You have it all, delivered to your workplace. (Ok, the costuming is a little lacking…)

Gemini

You provide some much needed guidance and relief in an unexpected manner this week. Don’t be so hard on yourself: you have a ton of wisdom and this week, someone is ready to hear it.

Cancer

Job seekers have a stressful week ahead; those nurses already employed are likely to experience a great deal of anxiety. Fret not: it’s not you, it’s them — and if you can hang in there, the situation will look brighter by the end of the week.

Leo

Connections and networking are your strong suit this week, Leo. Only YOU know the magic dialing sequence to make the pharmacy pick up the phone. Only YOU can get the doctor to respond to the page. Only YOU can persuade Mrs. Jones in bed six that she’ll develop inoperable carpal tunnel if she doesn’t leave hold of that call light. Enjoy these mad communication skills: by week’s end, you’ll be all talked out!

Virgo

Delight in small blessings this week, Virgo. A spare two minutes to run to the bathroom? Someone else got called in before you? A patient who says “Thank you” All of these glories might be yours — are you ready to appreciate them?

Star Charts by Suzanne LaBarne are intended for entertainment purposes only!

DiabeTEASE Looks At Portion Control

From Ha-Ha to a-Ha! Using Humor To Transform Nursing Education by Shirley K. Trout, PhD, MEd

A Curious Side Note about “Evidence”

This month’s column is, admittedly, not focused on humor. Sorry about that, but I had a conversation recently that I just have to share as I scratch my head in disbelief. My conversation was with a nurse-friend who was telling me the realities of her days on the floor of the hospital where she works. As is probably normal for most nurses, she had to be prepared to hit the ground running from the first second on duty to whatever time she was able to leave (she often covers double shifts because, as a per diem nurse, she can use the extra money).

She knows I’ve been working on nursing education transformation with Dr. Jan Boller, an associate professor and director of nursing leadership programs in the College of Graduate Nursing at Western University’s College of Health Sciences in Pomona, CA. My friend and I began talking about “evidence-based” nursing care. Her comment to me startled me and has been on my mind ever since.

She said, surprisingly defensively, “When I have a patient that needs [some kind of care procedure], am I supposed to run to the staff lounge and look up how to do the procedure properly? I don’t have time to find the evidence for what I’m doing.”

Hmmmmm. Is this a typical interpretation? Read more

Get A Life By Loretta LaRoche

I was recently in New York and the department store windows were filled with the latest fall fashions. What blew me away were the shoes. In the last several years heel height has grown exponentially.

I remember thinking I was one hot mama wearing two inchers. Walking in them all day was never a picnic and when I took them off at the end of the day I felt that I had been let out of foot prison.

When three and four inches and six inches became the in thing I thought “Well I definitely am not going there”. I just knew that I would end up flat on my face.

I’ve watched other women with admiration and awe walk down city streets without any signs of pain on their faces. I’ve often thought they must have medicated themselves before they left the house. Either that or they’ve spent a lot of time at home walking around on stilts!

Well six inch heels will soon be relics as the latest shoe craze hits the fashion runways — which are eight to ten inches.

I know I sound jaded, but what’s the point? Oh I know all the reasons for heel height. It makes your legs look longer and sexier.

I’m short so anything that raises me above ground level works, but I don’t need deformed feet or to periodically fall of my shoes.

I suppose you could consider the fact that your heels might help you fend off a mugger. If you could manage to take one off and hit him on the head with the heel, I’m sure he’d be a goner.

Perhaps they should add that to the advertising campaign.

“Look great and feel safe”

“The shoe that attracts and repels at the same time”.

What fascinates me is how much more practical men are. Men are not remotely interested in wearing shoes that hurt or maim them. Most of them wear their sneakers with no matter what their wearing and often have the same pair until they die.

We, on the other hand seem to embrace shoes that are uncomfortable as if we were doing penance for our sins.

If the current trend continues, shoes may have to come with warning labels; “Walk at your own risk”.

However, there’s always a bright side. I highly recommend that anyone considering the medical profession consider Podiatry, because you’ll always have a lot of business.

Loretta LaRoche writes the Get A Life Column for the Patriot Ledger.

Who Knew? Heaven Can Wait!

After living to a ripe old age, Dr. Jones, a world-famous surgeon, passed away during his sleep. He found himself at the back of an extremely long line leading up to the Pearly Gates.

After waiting what seemed like an eternity, Dr. Jones decided that he shouldn’t have to wait in line. He walked up to the Pearly Gates and said to St. Peter, “I’m Dr. Benny Jones, world famous surgeon. While on earth, I saved many lives and cured countless illnesses. I don’t think I should have to wait in this line.”

St. Peter curtly replied, “Here in Heaven, everyone is treated the same. Now go back to the end of the line.”

As he walked to the back of the line, he noticed a gentleman in a white lab coat with a leather bag and stethoscope, obviously a doctor, walk up to the front of the line. St. Peter waved him right through.

Furious, Dr. Jones ran up to St. Peter and shouted, “Why did that doctor get to go right through?”

St. Peter smiled and said, “Oh, that was God. Sometimes he just likes to play doctor.”

Do you have a favorite doctor joke? Send it to us at Cindy@journalofnursingjocularity.com We’ll share it with the world!

Nurse Marge In Charge

Dear Nurse Marge,

I am so discouraged. Our nurse manager has said right along that we should go to her with any problems. And so I did, only to get her snapping at me. The week after that, my hours were down to nothing, although this week they’re back to normal. I really feel like this was done to punish me.

I talked to another nurse who has worked here longer, and she said, “That’s how it is here, you’ve got to keep your head down and cover your butt.”

Is that true? Is nursing really so hostile to change that going to a manager will inevitably result in nothing but headaches? I’m so upset about this: I thought nursing was about caring for the patients!

Signed,

Staying Silent

Dear Staying Silent,

Covering your butt is always a good idea. Why do you think patients look so uncomfortable in gowns? It’s because their butts are hanging out!

Your friend is likely speaking from experience. However, there is a common mistake to confuse the way things have always been with the way they’re always going to be — the two aren’t the same.

Nursing isn’t necessarily resistant to change, but some nurses certainly are. One thing I’ve found is that many nurse managers weren’t ever actually nurses — or if they were, it was so long ago that the dust bunnies in their brain prevent them from peering that far back into their memories.

That’s why you have to couch your complaints in terms of what it means to the patient. Or, if you have a particularly slow nurse manager (and clearly none of them would be reading this column!) what it would mean in the long term, to them.

Rather than saying, “The crash cart isn’t being refilled regularly,” say “The crash cart isn’t being refilled, and if a patient codes, we’re not going to have what we need, and the patient may die.”

If this isn’t enough, you may need to take it a step further. “The crash cart isn’t being refilled, and if a patient codes, we’re not going to have what we need, and the patient may die. This means that they won’t give us positive ratings about their visit, and that will draw down our overall scores, and you’re going to be stuck in a six hour meeting about why numbers are off and what you’re going to do about it. If you made sure those carts got re-stocked, you could miss that meeting!”

You’ll never be a swab short of a save again, I can tell you that!

If you want your nurse managers to do what you want, you have to be able to convince them that it’s actually also what they want, in order to make their lives easier, more pleasant, and less filled with day long meetings.

Of course, this is a lot more work than keeping silent. That’s why many nurses keep mum. I personally work with a nurse, we call her Silent Sal. She hasn’t said anything since the spring of ‘83. Changes have come and gone around Silent Sal; some have pleased her, some haven’t. We don’t really know, since she doesn’t actually say anything.

It works for her. It would be impossible for me. I think you need to do what’s right for you: if you’re going to speak up, learn how to do it in language that management will be able to hear. And always think of the hospital gowns: there’s a reason we like to cover our butts!

Good Luck!

Nurse Marge

Star Charts by Suzanne LaBarne

Horoscopes just for Nurses!

Virgo

Tension and stress can’t be completely eliminated by the use of remote-control cars, but it’s still worth a try.  Tap some of your buddies, and you can set up your own version of the brickyard behind the nurses station!  Hold off on the checkered flags, though — they’re likely to be considered a bit over the top.

Libra

Romantic concerns make it hard to focus on the workplace.  Rather surprising, especially for those of you who are cardiac nurses…it’s all hearts, people!  Things should settle down or blow up completely by Friday.

Scorpio

Don’t ask what that slimy substance your patient is slathering on their wounds.  They believe it will eliminate scarring, and this is one time where it’s just much better to let your know-it-all resident explain about the glories of infection.

Sagittarius

If you’re a psychiatric nurse, Sagittarius, nothing this week will seem the least bit unusual.

Capricorn

If your completely immobile, pain level 45, unable to wipe her own butt patient can make it to the shower for a quick cigarette, Capricorn, don’t you think you can deal with what’s bothering you? You’ve dilly-dallied long enough.

Aquarius

Those strange rumbling feelings in your stomach? They’re called hunger, Aquarius: this week it will be imperative to eat before your shift — the stars don’t reveal many opportunities for long, leisurely meals during it!

Pisces

A quick slip near the patient’s bed, a deft leap over the tangled IVs, and a tuck and roll to avoid the crash cart and guess what? You’ve made the Olympic Tumbling Team, Pisces! This week holds unexpected opportunities, but it’s important to make the most of them.

Aries

Sweet dreams are yours, Aries — if you can let the job go for a while and sleep! It’s hard to maintain proper boundaries, especially this week. Practice leaving the job at the job if you want family peace and harmony.

Taurus

Confidence becomes an issue for normally stalwart Taurus. Don’t look to patients for reassurance that you’re doing a good job — you’re only as good at the last pain killer! Real validation comes from colleagues and from yourself.

Gemini

You can do anything you set your mind to, Gemini! You feel invincible this week, with the world at your fingertips. Capitalize on this fresh burst of energy to get things done — but don’t take the invincible thing to heart, otherwise, you’ll wind up in the ER with all the other invincible people!

Cancer

Your stars are full of references to memory and nostalgia, Cancer. You may find yourself looking backward, examining old motivations, choices, and situations from days gone by. Don’t get trapped in the history; the future holds more promise. This will be clear by week’s end.

Leo

If your unit had a soundtrack, what would it be? Put together a play list for your team, Leo. This will serve as an admirable distraction from everything else destined to happen this week, and that’s a good thing. Music can soothe the savage soul – and if you can get that hot young resident to dance along, so much the better!

Star Charts by Suzanne LaBarne are intended for entertainment purposes only!

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