Nurse clowns in the OR. An interview with Barbara Ann D'Anna.

1. There is always some degree of stress in the OR. The trick is to play up the eustress (positive, motivating energy) and alleviate the distress (negative/draining energy). Eustress is characterized by smiles, chatter, purposeful movement, and an OR that hums with efficiency. Distress can be assessed by unhappy faces, loud grumbling, dragging feet, and an OR that grinds to a halt. 2. Humor relaxes people and situations. It allows creative juices to flow and enhances what people take away from meetings by facilitating the creative process. The staff members feel good about themselves and what they are doing, and they become more productive. 3. The OR can be both a wonderful (eustress) and a horrible (distress) place in which to work. We need to savor the wonderful--and season the horrible with humor to make it palatable. As directors use humor to reduce staff stress levels, they should remember to bring laughter and humor into their own lives as well.