International journal of nursing practice
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Humour is an important and integral part of everyday life, social integration and professional nursing care. However, there has been little systematic research into the use of humour in nursing contexts, from the clients' point of view. With a touch of humour, this article aims to describe the positive impact of humour on client-nurse relationship and on clients' well-being. ⋯ Humour also helped clients to show their emotions and to preserve their dignity. In the nurse-client relationship, humour enabled the client to communicate criticism or to express themselves. Nurses can alleviate clients' anxieties through humour, and humour can help nurses to cope.