Humour in forensic services: forging connections between patients and students

Abstract

Laughter, a joke or banter can be essential to building positive relationships between patients and nurses. Students represent the present and future of mental health nursing, often having more interactions with patients than registered nurses. Despite the many benefits of humour, some considerations must be taken into account, particularly with regards to risk in forensic services. Interest in humour and related interventions in mental health settings began gaining traction over a decade ago, yet there remains limited consideration of the risks and benefits for students and patients in forensic services. This narrative review provides an analysis of the wider literature in the context of interactions shared between patients and student nurses in forensic settings to explore the benefits and risks of the use of humour.