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Laughter and Tears: Best Medicine for Stress
Author(s) -
Dugan Daniel O.
Publication year - 1989
Publication title -
nursing forum
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.618
H-Index - 36
eISSN - 1744-6198
pISSN - 0029-6473
DOI - 10.1111/j.1744-6198.1989.tb00814.x
Subject(s) - laughter , tears , psychology , natural (archaeology) , stress (linguistics) , nursing , social psychology , medicine , surgery , linguistics , philosophy , archaeology , history
Laughter and tears are natural resources that are often neglected in managing personal and professional stress. Facilitating patients' and families' laughter and tears is an important skill in providing emotional support, which is central to the caring role of nursing. Social stigmas, the medical model, and stressful hospital environments can distract nurses from employing these resources and other catharses in managing stress and supporting patients and families. Nurses can learn to integrate laughter and tears practically and appropriately into nursing care, thereby increasing work satisfaction and facilitating emotional healing.