Bee Productions

Meet Beve

Beve is a veteran Emergency Room Nurse and Stand Up Comic whose daily work with violent, angry, and stressed out people in a dangerous and volatile environment has made her somewhat of an expert on workplace stress and the importance of laughter. Her quirky observations, incredible life experiences and humourous style makes her the perfect orator at your next conference or workshop.

Beve is a successful, nationally recognized conference keynote speaker, published writer, educator and entertainer.

Beve with Calgary TV celebrity Jeb Fink
Funny Bone Comedy Night

Beve "Finds The Funny"

During a recent Trauma Symposium in Sioux Falls, South Dakota, Beve once again "Found the Funny" in the high-stress world of emergency workers.

"The emergency room may be the last place you'd think someone could have a big belly laugh. But in high stress work environments, a good chuckle may be just what the doctor ordered." Kelli Grant, HealthBeat Anchor, KELO-TV. Read more ...

A Discussion Panel with Deliotte

A discussion panel with Deliotte in Calgary provided a great venue for a lot of laughs as well as providing time for questions and answers to some tough questions about stress in the workplace.

Beve explains how important it is to inject humour into every work day.

In the same panel discussion, Beve provided some insight into ways to lighten up a tense situation using humour.

Beve Chats with CTV in Calgary

Beve chats with Ian White of CTV about why humour is so important in the workplace. She also discusses how humour can be very physically therapeutic for our bodies.

Interestingly, research suggests that humour can also get you promoted, not just keep you focussed and productive at your job.

M & M Meat Shops

Beve provided a fun workshop for the workers at M & M Meat Shops in Calgary. Filled with laughs, the workshop also taught everyone to find ways to lighten up stressful situations and at the same time increasing productivity.

Beve in the Press

PLC Nurse Delivers Comic Relief, by Maureen Stroulger, The Calgary Herald. Read more...

Unsung Heroes, a letter to the Editor of the Calgary Herald. Read more...

Beve on the Radio

Beve recently chatted with Paul Guggenheimer on his Dakota Midday Radio talk show. Click on the play button to hear about humour in the ER. Read more...

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Some Questions for Beve

Q.   Give an example of a time when humour proved to be effective in your work environment.

A.   We all know someone in the office who tries but fails at his/her attempts at humour and inevitably makes everyone uncomfortable. There is no sense enduring this day in and day out when I can give you the skills to diffuse the situation. When the right moment presents itself - and it will - use harmless humour of your own to put a stop to it.

For example, I worked with a doctor who very often tried to make jokes. He was a nice enough fellow but sometimes it felt like he was looking to cement his status as 'THE DOCTOR" or cause minor embarrassment. One day I was dressed in a ridiculously mismatched biking outfit after my shift (preparing for my cycle home), and had to run back into the unit as I'd forgotten something.

In front of several staff and others, he laughed and remarked loudly, "Look at you! What are you - an alien from another planet or something?" I let one beat go but then replied, "That's correct, Doctor. I'm from Planet Exercise. Apparently you've never heard of us!" We all had a good laugh and he never bothered me again!

Q.    Now give us an idea of when NOT to use humour.

A.    A vital part of working in the Emergency Department is easing fear. Patients present with painful, perhaps life-threatening problems. They and their families are understandably stressed and worried. Not only must the physician treat the patient's physical symptoms, but also provide calm reassurance and empathy to ease those tensions and fear.

Humour is key in easing that stress but here is an example of when it made things worse.

Imagine, if you will, one emergency physician from long ago who routinely (I believe he honestly thought he was funny and engaging) discussed complicated ongoing treatment for ill elderly patients with, "Well, I think we should take you out behind the barn and shoot you! Ha ha!" Imagine being 82, having just had a heart attack, and this is what your DOCTOR says to you!