Does the term hospital humor seem like an oxymoron? When we think about hospitals, we often think about pain, stress, and grief. To be honest, the circumstances in a hospital are not particularly happy ones. However, it is still possible for clinic and hospital personnel to make environments as cheerful as possible, for patients. Here are some of the most effective methods: 1. Put on a clown suit More and more hospitals are learning that indeed, laughter is the best medicine. One idea is to have a staff member occasionally dress up in a clown outfit, and visit the various patients in the hospital. Patients can undergo a tremendous amount of physical and emotional pain, during their stay in a hospital. Seeing the big red nose and oversized clothing of a clown is enough to make the day of almost any patient. 1. Do basic magic tricks While magic tricks are not humorous per se, they can still bring a smile to ailing patients faces. The tricks do not have to be elaborate. In fact, it is likely that the patient will still enjoy seeing the trick, even if it is for the umpteenth time. The key is that the magic should be light, and certainly not scary. Magic can serve as a perfect diversion, to take a patient s mind off his or her situation. 1. Take a non interference approach When sharing hospital humor with patients, follow some basic guidelines to ensure that you do not interfere with the patient s daily schedule. Knock on the door before entering. That will give the patient a chance to refuse your visit. If the timing seems inappropriate while you perform your routine, then you should leave immediately. Finally, never touch any of the equipment in the patient s room. It is important to follow this rule, even if the patient insists that it is okay. Instead, contact a nurse, as she knows the medical needs of the patient. 1. Use certain precautions when bringing hospital humor to children Here are some important guidelines: ? Smile and be positive ? Bend or sit at their level ? Do not sit on the bed ? Never pick up a child ? Do not discuss sicknesses or injuries ? Do not discuss personal issues 1. Wear attire that is light and cheerful Once upon a time, doctors and nurses wore street clothes. Fortunately, attire for medical personnel has evolved into items that are more hygienic, such as cheap landau scrubs. However, why should you wear the standard light green or light blue scrubs? Today, you have several options available, including scrubs of various colors and patterns. Bright colors and attractive designs can put a smile on any patient s face. If you work exclusively with children, then you should consider scrubs with wacky cartoon characters. Kids will love them! Though we often consider hospitals to be unhappy places, hospital humor can be effective. Try applying the aforementioned tips, such as wearing bright or patterned scrubs, to liven up a patient s day. You can turn a frown, upside down!