What Do You Need To Do At Fifty? You Need Your Colonoscopy: No Ifs, Ands, Or Butts! by Patricia L. Raymond, MD, FACP, FACG

I’m proud to be a Big Buttinski. After all, I chose to become a Gastroenterologist. And   I want you to get your colonoscopy now.

You think that I am going to harp on the medical reasons, don’t you? About how 40% of Americans at forty have one or more colon polyps, little fleshy mushroom–like growths, sprouting in their colon.  And how these polyps, usually over a ten to twelve year span, may proceed onto cancer in 6% of us. That as our number two cancer killer, after lung, you really need your colonoscopy done to look for and remove those polyps, simply because now you’re fifty.

Nah. Too easy. Instead, I’m going to tweak most Americans two darkest desires: greed and the quest for fame. Read more

Humor Lets You Own Your Disease: JNJ Talks to Kelly Kunik

“I didn’t want my friends to be afraid of me,” Kelly Kunik said. “Who wants to be the kid who passes out? So I made jokes. I didn’t want them to be nervous, I wanted to be normal.” That sense of humor that Kunik used growing up as a Type 1 Diabetic (she was diagnosed at age 8) comes shining through her writing, which you can read on her blog Diabetesaliciousness. We recently sat down with Kelly to talk about humor, the role it plays in chronic conditions, and what patients wish their health care providers knew.

JNJ: Humor’s obviously a large part of your life. Why don’t we start out talking about the connection http://www.journalofnursingjocularity.com/wp-admin/post.php?action=edit&post=3027#titledivbetween having diabetes and the power of laughter?

Kelly: There’s absolutely a very strong connection between humor and diabetes. It lets you own your disease, rather than letting it own you. Once you can laugh at something, you own it. Things become easier, all across the spectrum.

When you find a community of other people who are facing the same situation, and you find you can laugh about what you have in common — cutting your finger and running for your meter because you don’t want to waste the blood! — it makes things more bearable. You don’t feel like you’re alone. You’re not the only person who doesn’t want to get out of bed in the morning. You’re not the only person who has to go exercise, even when you really don’t want to. Read more

The JNJ Hall of Fame Honors Vera Robinson

The Journal of Nursing Jocularity is proud to announce our first inductee into our Hall of Fame: Vera M. Robinson!

The JNJ Hall of Fame honors those brave souls who have made extensive, meaningful contributions to the world of therapeutic humor. It’s only fitting that we give our first spot (and a big Thumbs Up!) to Vera Robinson, an absolute pioneer in the field.

Vera’s 1977 book, Humor and the Healing Professions, has been a handbook not only for me but for anyone who believes that laugher really is the best medicine; that laughing with our patients helps them and us, and that solid science  supports what the proverb says: A merry heart is truly a healthy heart! Read more

Real Nurses’ New Year’s Resolutions!

It’s that time of year again, when we make ourselves lofty promises and set incredible goals — only to break them a few days later.  This year, we’ve looked at some of the most common resolutions people make and translated them into “Nurse Speak!”

The Resolution: This year I will lose weight by exercising and eating healthily.

The Nurse’s Resolution: By strategic use of the vending machine and cold coffee I will ingest enough calories to keep me moving; answering call lights and shuffling paperwork will provide the exercise portion of the day.

The Resolution: I will quit smoking.

The Nurse’s Resolution: I will quit smoking the minute doctors stop writing idiotic orders and admin stops talking cheerfully about the “opportunity” to work overtime…oh, you didn’t mean the smoke coming out of my ears?

The Resolution: I will be more cheerful and optimistic.

The Nurse’s Resolution: Ever since Essence of Ativan became my favorite perfume, being cheerful and optimistic is NO PROBLEM!

The Resolution: I will focus on my love life and spending time with my romantic partner.

The Nurse’s Resolution: I will drop kick the next yahoo who makes a “sexy nurse” joke into next week.  If they still want to date me after they get up, I’ll consider it…maybe.

The Resolution: I will live in the present; not worrying about the future nor regretting the past.

The Nurse’s Resolution: I will remain too busy to worry about the future and too overwhelmed to even remember the past!

JNJ Talks to Nurse Talk!

This month, we’re honored to talk with two funny funny ladies, Pattie Lockard, the producer, and Casey Hobbs, co- host and co-creator of Nurse Talk. We promise, as soon as you get done reading this, you’ll want to run and check them out! As soon as you listen, you’ll be hooked!

JNJ: So, tell us about how this all got started.  Who’s idea was this?

Casey: Pattie and I used to listen to Car Talk, a radio show featuring two brothers who are car mechanics. They have a very funny show, and we’d go for drive, and listen to their  show. Listening to them, we realized that it was a perfect format for nurses.

We could do Nurse Talk! Now this was back in the 90’s, and the idea kind of kicked around for many years. Then I met Maggie — she’s the  other nurse on show. We worked togehter for a number of years. She’s very funny naturally… Read more

JNJ Talks To Jo Manion

Jo Manion is a world-renowned speaker, consultant and author. Her latest book is The Engaged Workforce: Proven Strategies to Build a Positive Health Care Workplace. We’re thrilled to have Jo join us and talk about the need for joy, energy, and more.

JNJ: Jo, it’s an absolute delight to have you join us. I recently had a wonderful opportunity to hear you speak, and that’s where I learned that your dissertation was really different than the typical dissertation. I know when I did my dissertation, I was really encouraged to work on the locus of control in patients with eating disorders, and I had to really fight to work on something different. It sounds like you also took a more positive route: you looked at joy in the workplace. Can you tell us how that came about? Read more

JNJ Talks To Valerie Fausone

Cynical, sharp, sarcastic, and passionate about everything from Rock and Roll to pit bulls, Valerie Fausone is the author of Life is Ridiculous and Fountain of Marvelous. She sat down with JNJ to talk about humor, health care, and the art of cultivating levity.

In the operating room, the anesthetist placed a mask over my fce, and as I floated away, I noticed something strange and familiar amidst the medical apparatus.  I saw a microwave.  Even in a complete stupor, I can pick out a microwave anywhere. (It’s my primary cooking tool.) I thought they must use it to warm up baboon hearts or something lifesaving like that, but then right before I went under I read the sign on it.

It said: ABSOLUTELY NO POPCORN.

How that sign came to be there must be hospital legend. Read more

JNJ Talks to David Granirer!

David Granirer wears many hats. Counselor, comic, author, speaker, and a funny, funny guy, he is also the driving force behind Stand Up for Mental Health, an innovative program that is truly therapeutic humor in action. We’re thrilled to have David join us for this conversation!

JNJ: For those who are not already familiar with your work, can you give us a little background about what you do?

David: My project, Stand Up for Mental Health, teaches standup comedy to people with mental illness. We’ve been doing this since 2004, helping people build confidence and fight the stigma of mental illness.

In my own background, I’m a counselor and a stand up comic. I also have mental illness, I have depression, which in a way makes me the perfect person to do this work! Read more

On Call: JNJ Talks to Gina Barecca

Gina Barecca is the author of one of my favorite books ever, “They Used to Call Me Snow White, But I Drifted” – a must read for any and everyone reading this magazine. She’s also an educator, an high profile blogger, and one of the funniest people on the planet!

I was thrilled and honored to be able to sit down with Gina and discuss her latest book, “It’s Not That I’m Bitter: How I Learned To Stop Worrying About Visible Panty Lines and Conquered The World.” Check out this interview, which covers the intricacies of buying bathing suits, conquering stray hairs and more.

Listen to JNJ interview Gina Barecca on another episode of On Call:

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Happiness is Already Inside You: JNJ Talks to Dr. Robert Holden

Happiness expert, world renowned author of several books, including Shift Happens! and the forthcoming Be Happy, Dr. Robert Holden is the founder of The Happiness Project.  He is one of the pioneers and innovators in the field of positive psychology, and is dedicated to helping people realize their own authentic success.

Robert recently joined the JNJ team to discuss what happiness truly is, and how we can all enjoy more happiness in our personal lives.

JNJ: Let’s begin right at the beginning.  Your work is so well known.  I’m very curious about how you got started and what drew you to this work.  How did you become an expert on happiness? Read more

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