Describe a situation where it may be appropriate to use humor in the workplace when training as a Nurse Fellow.
Sometimes, even on the toughest of days, direct patient care staff need to have humor and fun in the clinic or hospital setting to help keep things sane. This question allows your interviewers some insight into your personality and the type of team member you would be if you were to join their Nurse Fellowship program. They'll look to hear that you will always be conscientious of when you use humor and that you do so appropriately.
"I am not opposed to a funny nursing meme posted in the office away from patient eyes, but I feel that we should represent the hospital staff as compassionate, caring, and professional individuals. During the busiest of days when it's easy for staff to be downtrodden and dejected, humor can help brighten days and raise spirits if used correctly. I wouldn't hesitate to use my wit to help lift a colleague in the appropriate moment."
There is a time for humor in the workplace for nursing staff, but it must be mindful. What people think is funny can vary wildly. If humor is used, it should be very mild and universal. It's a good policy to be kind, tolerant, professional, and compassionate with your patients. Certainly, laugh at a child's joke, if appropriate, and acknowledge a patient's attempt to be cheerful, but follow rather than lead with humor and only support, chuckle, or smile at anything that would be universally accepted as OK.
