Humor as a Healthcare Professional: Intervention
8
About the Course
This course was designed to help healthcare providers understand why and how to incorporate humor into the care of patients. This continuing education course provides foundational information on humor theories, discusses how humor may impact immune function, and examines the holistic effects of humor on the health of individuals. It also looks at the effects of humor and laughter on disease outcomes and provides suggestions of how to incorporate humor into our own lives and into the lives of others.
Learning Objectives
• Define terms related to humor.
• Describe the various theories of humor.
• Explain the impact of humor and laughter on disease processes.
• Discuss the use of humor as a complementary therapy.
• Explain how humor may be used as a coping mechanism.
• Discuss how to appropriately engage in humorous interchanges with patients, families, colleagues, and healthcare providers.
About the Author
Dr. Bennett is a professor and director of the Western Kentucky University School of Nursing. She has been a faculty member for 27 years, teaching at the undergraduate and graduate levels. Her clinical work is as a family nurse practitioner in the primary care setting. Dr. Bennett’s primary research focus is testing the effects of various complementary therapies on physiological and psychological outcomes, using psychoneuroimmunology as the underlying theory. Her dissertation was on the effect of laughter on stress and the activity of natural killer cells. Since then, she has examined the effects of laughter, massage therapy, relaxation therapy, and music therapy on stress and immune function. Other areas of research interest are examining barriers to pre-nursing and nursing student success and the care of the end-of-life patient. Dr. Bennett has received research funding and awards from Rush University, Indiana State University, Western Kentucky University, and the Lambda Sigma and Kappa Theta chapters of Sigma Theta Tau International. She has presented her research at national and international conferences such as the Psychoneuroimmunology Research Society conference and the International Society for Humor Studies conference. Dr. Bennett’s research has been published in numerous journals, including Alternative Therapies in Health and Medicine, Oncology Nursing Forum, Psycho- Oncology, Evidenced-Based Complementary and Alternative Medicine, Journal of Biological Research for Nursing, Brain Behavior and Immunity, BioPsychoSocial Medicine, and Journal of Hospice and Palliative Nursing.
How to Receive Credit
• Read the entire course online or in print.
• Answer the final examination questions at the end of the course. A passing grade of 75% is required. Test questions link content to learning objectives as a method to enhance individualized learning and material retention.
• Provide required personal information and payment information.
• Complete the mandatory course evaluation.
• Print your Certificate of Completion.
Resolution of Conflict of Interest
Colibri Healthcare, LLC implemented mechanisms prior to the planning and implementation of the continuing education activity, to identify and resolve conflicts of interest for all individuals in a position to control content of the course activity.
Sponsorship/Commercial Support and Non-Endorsement
It is the policy of Colibri not to accept commercial support. Furthermore, commercial interests are prohibited from distributing or providing access to this activity to learners.
Disclaimer
The information provided in this activity is for continuing education purposes only and is not meant to substitute for the independent medical judgment of a healthcare provider relative to diagnostic and treatment options of a specific patient’s medical condition.
©2022: All Rights Reserved. Materials may not be reproduced without the expressed written permission or consent of Colibri Healthcare, LLC. The materials presented in this course are meant to provide the consumer with general information on the topics covered. The information provided was prepared by professionals with practical knowledge of the areas covered. It is not meant to provide medical, legal, or professional advice. Colibri Healthcare, LLC recommends that you consult a medical, legal, or professional services expert licensed in your state. Colibri Healthcare, LLC has made all reasonable efforts to ensure that all content provided in this course is accurate and up to date at the time of printing but does not represent or warrant that it will apply to your situation nor circumstances and assumes no liability from reliance on these materials. Quotes are collected from customer feedback surveys. The models are intended to be representative and not actual customers.
This course was designed to help healthcare providers understand why and how to incorporate humor into the care of patients. This continuing education course provides foundational information on humor theories, discusses how humor may impact immune function, and examines the holistic effects of humor on the health of individuals. It also looks at the effects of humor and laughter on disease outcomes and provides suggestions of how to incorporate humor into our own lives and into the lives of others.
Learning Objectives
• Define terms related to humor.
• Describe the various theories of humor.
• Explain the impact of humor and laughter on disease processes.
• Discuss the use of humor as a complementary therapy.
• Explain how humor may be used as a coping mechanism.
• Discuss how to appropriately engage in humorous interchanges with patients, families, colleagues, and healthcare providers.
About the Author
Dr. Bennett is a professor and director of the Western Kentucky University School of Nursing. She has been a faculty member for 27 years, teaching at the undergraduate and graduate levels. Her clinical work is as a family nurse practitioner in the primary care setting. Dr. Bennett’s primary research focus is testing the effects of various complementary therapies on physiological and psychological outcomes, using psychoneuroimmunology as the underlying theory. Her dissertation was on the effect of laughter on stress and the activity of natural killer cells. Since then, she has examined the effects of laughter, massage therapy, relaxation therapy, and music therapy on stress and immune function. Other areas of research interest are examining barriers to pre-nursing and nursing student success and the care of the end-of-life patient. Dr. Bennett has received research funding and awards from Rush University, Indiana State University, Western Kentucky University, and the Lambda Sigma and Kappa Theta chapters of Sigma Theta Tau International. She has presented her research at national and international conferences such as the Psychoneuroimmunology Research Society conference and the International Society for Humor Studies conference. Dr. Bennett’s research has been published in numerous journals, including Alternative Therapies in Health and Medicine, Oncology Nursing Forum, Psycho- Oncology, Evidenced-Based Complementary and Alternative Medicine, Journal of Biological Research for Nursing, Brain Behavior and Immunity, BioPsychoSocial Medicine, and Journal of Hospice and Palliative Nursing.
How to Receive Credit
• Read the entire course online or in print.
• Answer the final examination questions at the end of the course. A passing grade of 75% is required. Test questions link content to learning objectives as a method to enhance individualized learning and material retention.
• Provide required personal information and payment information.
• Complete the mandatory course evaluation.
• Print your Certificate of Completion.
Resolution of Conflict of Interest
Colibri Healthcare, LLC implemented mechanisms prior to the planning and implementation of the continuing education activity, to identify and resolve conflicts of interest for all individuals in a position to control content of the course activity.
Sponsorship/Commercial Support and Non-Endorsement
It is the policy of Colibri not to accept commercial support. Furthermore, commercial interests are prohibited from distributing or providing access to this activity to learners.
Disclaimer
The information provided in this activity is for continuing education purposes only and is not meant to substitute for the independent medical judgment of a healthcare provider relative to diagnostic and treatment options of a specific patient’s medical condition.
©2022: All Rights Reserved. Materials may not be reproduced without the expressed written permission or consent of Colibri Healthcare, LLC. The materials presented in this course are meant to provide the consumer with general information on the topics covered. The information provided was prepared by professionals with practical knowledge of the areas covered. It is not meant to provide medical, legal, or professional advice. Colibri Healthcare, LLC recommends that you consult a medical, legal, or professional services expert licensed in your state. Colibri Healthcare, LLC has made all reasonable efforts to ensure that all content provided in this course is accurate and up to date at the time of printing but does not represent or warrant that it will apply to your situation nor circumstances and assumes no liability from reliance on these materials. Quotes are collected from customer feedback surveys. The models are intended to be representative and not actual customers.