Humour: a skill to be developed in the practice of nursing care
Section: Originals
How to quote
Carbelo B et al. El Humor: una habilidad a desarrollar en la práctica de los Cuidados Enfermeros. Metas de Enfermería may 2001; 4(4): 46-51
Authors
1Begoña Carbelo, 2Sonsoles Rodríguez de la Parra
Position
1Diplomada en Enfermería y Licenciada en Psicología. Profesora Titular del Departamento de Enfermería. Universidad de Alcalá. 2Dimplomada/o en Enfermería. Profesor/a Titular del Departamento de Enfermería. Universidad de Alcalá.
Contact address
Departamento de Enfermería y Fisioterapia. Universidad de Alcalá. Aulario A. 28871 Madrid.
Contact email: bego.carbelo@uah.es
Abstract
To find out about the predisposition of Nursing towards humour, whether humour is related to health, whether the nurses consider it a resource for the healthcare routine, and finally, the way in which they themselves express their humour. We start with the hypothesis that humour is a human capacity that has different applications and that manifestations of humour can be observed, learnt and developed.
A descriptive study was carried out. The population of the study were student nurses from the University of Alcalá (Madrid). A sample of 150 subjects was taken. A questionnaire was designed for data collection, filled in by the subjects themselves, with twenty yes/no questions, one open-ended question and three mixed questions. The questions probed the qualities necessary for social relationship, the qualities of humour, the application and use of humour, attitudes towards humour and ways of expressing it. For the statistical treatment of the data, the SPSS 10.0 program was used.
21% of the students related happiness with humour. Regarding the qualities for social relationships, companionship was the most important for personal relations (33.4%) and for care giving (32%); 46% identified organisation as the most important quality in the teachers. Percentages greater than 80% in all items that evaluated the application/use of humour were obtained. 82% regularly used humour and 76.7% supported specific training in this area.
Conclusions: Humour forms part of the daily life of nursing students, humour being identified with positive attitudes towards life. The students are also in favour of specific training in this area.
Keywords:
humour; nursing carenursing students
Versión en Español
Título:
El Humor: una habilidad a desarrollar en la práctica de los Cuidados Enfermeros
