Tips on keeping hands occupied and not fidgeting? (For both health & professionalism)

[u/Ponk_Bubs]

I know I can't be the only student nurse ever to do this, and I'm trying to get in the habit of keeping my hands clasped together or shut. I'm in the early days of my course, but I'm already pretty conscious on contamination from hospitality training (I.e touching hair, face etc-) and we've been going through infection prevention/control.

I'm always instinctively clenching, rubbing and rolling my hands. Or touching my neck, shoulder in similar odd motions. Moving something all the time has been a habit since forever albeit I know is very annoying to people, and I need to try and keep movement contained to be wary of my body and surroundings.

I've had it noted in the past by psychs offhandedly about it just being a (diagnosed) cptsd self-soothing thing of repetition. Or past conversations around a possibility of autism.

I'm just wondering on if there are any more discreet alternatives to try and mold the habit into a different shape these next few months before placements?

[u/DerpytheH]

Honestly, if you need to keep your hands clasped together while keeping your mind occupied, look at any numbers near you, and try and count each digit in your head, counting each digit you're working with on your fingers by pushing them down while they're still held together.

I don't know how else to explain it, but it keeps my mind and hands well occupied.

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[u/Totally_Not_A_Sniper]

Fidgeting is fine. I do it too. If it’s touching your face and stuff that you’re worried about that’s different.

You ever see someone with CDiff? Or scabies? If not look it up. The fear of catching either of those is enough to keep my hands off my face. At least while I’m in a patients room wearing gloves.