10 Tips for Adding a Bolt of “Lighten”ing to the Healthcare Workplace
by Ron Culberson
1. Use HUMOR in communicating information through emails, memos and presentations, discharge instructions, etc.
2. Start all staff meetings, team meetings, nurse's reports and case presentations with a bit of HUMOR to create a relaxed atmosphere.
3. Create a FUN committee to help plan parties, celebrations and recognition events for staff.
4. Create a HUMOR Bulletin Board in the nurse's station or staff area where you can put funny cartoons, jokes and pictures to share with other staff.
5. Hold a LAUGH Lunch once each month where, over lunch, staff have a chance to share jokes, stories, embarrassing patient care moments and other funny things.
6. Collect HUMOROUS books, tapes, and magazines to be made available to patients and their families to relieve stress.
7. Create a FUN Stress Relief Area for staff that includes stress balls, candy, Koosh Balls, etc.
8. Cut out a famous person's picture from the newspaper and put it over the photo on your name badge.
9. Give a FUN prize each week to the staff person who had to deal with the most difficult patient, family or colleague.
10. Keep a copy of LIGHTENing Bolts at your nurse's station or staff area (See below).
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Copyright 2005 by Ron Culberson. Reprinted with permission. Ron Culberson, Director of Everything! at FUNsulting, etc., is a speaker, humorist, author of Is Your Glass Laugh Full? and former hospice social worker whose mission is to work with organizations that want their people to lighten up by using humor to minimize stress and maximize effectiveness. He is a Certified Speaking Professional (CSP), the highest earned award from the National Speakers Association, and is one of less than 7% of speakers worldwide who have received this designation. He has provided entertaining and informative programs to over 70,000 people in more than 600 associations, government agencies, non-profit organizations and Fortune 500 companies. Reach Ron at www.Funsulting.com
