Humor as a teaching tool. Use in psychiatric undergraduate nursing.

The research and anecdotal literature has suggested therapeutic humor is beneficial in the treatment relationship between nurse and patient; however, the potential effects of therapeutic humor between students and faculty have largely been overlooked. The literature has substantiated that a positive rapport between teacher and student facilitates improved student performance during the clinical experience. The author posits that a teacher's skillful use of humor can be an effective means of establishing and maintaining rapport with a student during potentially stressful clinical experiences. This article discusses the use of appropriate humor and how humor can be leveraged for effective academic and clinical instructional purposes, particularly in high-stress, high-demand settings. The article reflects on the potential for misinterpretation of humor, urging careful consideration of the context for its use. Copyright 2010, SLACK Incorporated.