How Humor Helps: Patient Communication

Working with geriatric patients is a special joy, but the patient population also presents some unique challenges. Christine R, a nurse from Kansas City, was having a hard time explaining to her patient Harold why he was so itchy and uncomfortable.

“You see, Harold, it’s because you have shingles,” Christine began.

“The hell I do!” he protested. “You can’t tell me that!” His response was so forceful and insistent that Christine didn’t have an answer right away.

“I found myself checking the paperwork again. But there it was, larger than life — and believe me, it’s not like we don’t see shingles often enough! If the doc says it’s shingles, she knows what she’s talking about.” She laughed. “So I asked him, “Harold, why you think you don’t have shingles?” (more…)