Strategically placed grease paint, a red nose, goofy hat, hospital scrubs and a strong desire to lift spirits. There's certainly value in making someone happy.
For the past five years,
St. Luke's Caring Clown Troupe has been spreading laughter through the halls of St. Luke's Regional Medical Center after having graduated from the clown classes, which are offered three times a year at St. Luke's
Each student is taught hospital protocol, rules and regulations, sanitation procedures, developing a clown character and all kinds of ideas for making the initial "connection" with a patient.
"There's no star model or prescription for teaching caring clowning," says Jenny Herrick - a.k.a. "Lottie-da," founder and manager of the group, "due to the wide diversity of hospital programs and individual clown skills. There's as many ways to be a caring clown as there are clown characters."
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Herrick adds that clowning provides opportunities for individuals to be playful, therapeutic or entertaining. Some clowns simply play the role of friend, which is something many patients need when in the hospital setting.
"Everyone is happy to see a clown-almost everyone-and no one walks by without smiling. The clown personifies the vulnerability and sweetness in life. It's actually an opportunity to connect with the 'inner child,' which hopefully is still in all of us no matter our age," adds Herrick.
Interested Siouxlanders will have their opportunity to register for the next free six-week training class starting on Tuesday, Feb. 13 at 7 p.m. The training will emphasize hospital protocol, rules and regulations, ethics and joys of becoming a hospital clown. All the classes are held in a lower level meeting room of the hospital and are held from 7 p.m. to 9 p.m. Students are to meet in the hospital lobby the first night.
Herrick says former clowning experience is unnecessary to become a hospital clown, and clowns aren't required to be funny-although it helps to "think funny." She stresses that good listening skills are a must; oftentimes, patients just need a person who's willing to sit down and listen.
"Contrary to popular belief, hospital clowns don't have to know a thing about performing; all of their training classes deal with what the patient wants. The classes provide all of the necessary information on how to look "clowny," but even more importantly, the classes teach individuals how to listen with their eyes, ears and hearts," says Herrick.
According to research, laughter lowers blood pressure, reduces stress hormones, increases muscle range of motion and boosts immune system function.
It's also been known to trigger the release of endorphins, the body's natural painkillers. Some studies have shown that patients exposed to humor after surgery and before medication is administered are less likely to perceive pain.
St. Luke's Caring Clown Troupe will hold their next clown class on Tuesday, Feb. 13 at 7 p.m. The class is free and all individuals (18 years and older) interested in becoming a hospital clown are encouraged to attend.
For more information, call
St. Luke's at (712) 279-3220.
