Lessons from the red nose : what nurses can learn from therapeutic clowns

In this qualitative study, seven participants from two volunteer therapeutic clown troupes were interviewed about their experiences in order to discover how clowns and clowning techniques can inform nursing practice, specifically in the art of relationship. Clowning emerged as a complex art, combining the visual elements of the costume, make-up and props with ubiquitous humour, laced with sensitivity and compassion. Participants described having a vocation for clowning, with intrinsic motivation and passion. They articulated how their clown costumes and personas provided emotional shielding, giving them protection from – while also allowing entrance into – emotionally difficult situations. They also used judicious humour, intuiting when, where and how best to use humour in myriad patient situations in a way that brought relief to patients and families. Insights from clowning can help nurses to expand their relational art: In patient settings, when used judiciously, there may be no place where humour is off limits.