Stu890

Hi! I have social anxiety as well. I generally do OK if I'm talking about myself so I do that in small talk more than anything else. OR I try to find a common interest and we discuss that. However, I am prone to oversharing so I have to adjust for that but otherwise, it takes a lot of the anxiety away. I also find making myself busy helps. I go "Hi Ms_________ I'm going to check your IV site", or I fold sheets while talking. I always make small talk while busying myself with something else. It works like mindfulness and helps to ground me. I never do anything that requires my full focus; just something that uses one sense primarily. Overall give yourself time. Your brain will likely stop or slow down on running laps once you get used to the new stimulus.

Hi! Do any of the nurses here know if pre-nursing school students are ever able to shadow ICU nurses and if so how do I go about making that happen? I am a CNA but I have no hospital experience so I would love to get a feel of the environment to help direct me. Also, how do ICU nurses avoid burnout if their hospitals aren't supportive?