If you’ve ever felt your heart thudding like a drum in a quiet ward, you know how quickly anxiety can hijack a shift.   You’re not alone – clinicians, nurses, med students and even mental‑health therapists report that a sudden spike in worry can make a simple patient note feel like a mountain.   That’s where the 4‑7‑8 breathing technique slips in like a quiet ally, promising to calm the nervous system in just a few breaths.   The method is straightforward: inhale through the