Humor Healing Nurses – Humor Health News

Do you think going to the ER is a laughing matter? If you don’t, you may be convinced that it can be after you hear this story of a humor healing nurse.

Written by Jamie Lampros
Link to Original Article

WASHINGTON TERRACE — Ogden Regional Medical Center has a new weapon in the war against disease and pain.

Comedy.

Blake Nelson, an emergency room nurse from Morgan, has found that joking around helps ease the tension for patients during the stress and fear of an ER visit.

Using his sense of humor, Nelson quickly put at ease a 16 year-old patient complaining of stomach pain.

He joked about the intravenous line he had to put into her arm and how some of the side effects of her medication might make her feel.

“They told me to give you some Nexium. You know, it’s the purple pill. I found it in the candy bowl out there,” he told the teenager.

After wheeling her down to have an ultrasound, he said to the technician, “I’m going to put $10 on the gallbladder. Let me know if I win.”

Before long, the worried look on the teenager’s face disappeared and she started to relax and even crack a few jokes back at Nelson.

“Many of the patients we treat are very ill. Imagine yourself in the ER, sick, and your nurse or doctor acts as if it is putting them out to take care of you,” Nelson said.

“The patient needs to know you are on their side. If I can get them to laugh or even crack a smile, then I have done something therapeutic.”

Emergency room charge nurse Bridgette Hooton said Nelson is a natural-born comedian.

“It’s fun to have the little wisecracks,” she said. “It puts patients and their families at ease. He’s got a really dry sense of humor and always makes us laugh. He puts people at ease and breaks the tension.”

Nelson is modest about his sense of humor, but said if he has one, it comes from his mother’s side of the family.

“They are a riot.”

After serving a mission to Argentina for The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, Nelson began his medical career in the admitting department at the hospital. From there, he became a ward clerk in the ER and went to school, becoming an emergency medical technician and certified nursing assistant.

He enjoyed his work in the ER so much, he continued with his schooling and earned his nursing degree.

“I had a patient the other day who was a nurse in World War II. She was 99 years old and still spoke fondly of her days working in this field,” Nelson said.

“I know that, one day, I’ll be able to look back on my life and know I did something to help people in need.”

Born and raised in Morgan, Nelson, 34, still lives in his hometown. He met his wife, Crystal, at Weber State University and proposed to her by renting a limousine and taking her to dinner at Temple Square.

The two are the parents of three daughters and a beta fish named Buttercup.

Working in the emergency room has also made him a protective father.

“Let’s just say that few ER employees own a trampoline,” he said.

“I strive to be a father that is there for his family. I know that what kind of dad I am will influence the kind of husbands my daughters will marry. No pressure there.”

When he isn’t working, Nelson likes to spend time with his family, play the violin, fly fish and go camping.

His favorite TV shows include “Survivor Man,” “The Office,” “Scrubs” and “Man vs. Wild” … “until I saw Bear Grylls eat bear poop,” Nelson said.

All kidding aside, Nelson said when people come to the emergency room, they want straight talk.

“They want to be informed of what’s happening to them or a loved one,” he said. “Sometimes people’s fears are unjustified, so if you inform them, they are better able to deal with the stress of the moment.”

Nelson said his job has taught him just how precious life is.

“Things can change in an instant. I remember doing CPR on a patient in his early 40s with his wife and young children standing outside waiting,” he said. “We were unable to save the patient. Every day is a gift.”

As for giving advice, Nelson said with summer coming up, there are plenty of things you can do to avoid landing in the emergency room:

“Let’s start off by saying that alcohol and most outdoor activities don’t mix.

“Helmets won’t keep you out of the ER, but at least you will go home eventually.

“Do not think you can climb on top of a 2,000-pound angry animal with horns and think you’ve somehow avoided danger.

“Cliffs are for looking at, not jumping off of no matter how deep you think the water is.”