[me-too]

Hi all,

I am a newcomer. Forgive me if I have sent this message more than once because I am just learning how to use your website. It must be nice to come home from a busy day as a nurse and have other people with whom to commiserate.

I am in my 40's and thinking about returning to school (on an undergrad level) to become a nurse. I already have a BA degree in English. Won't that be fun going to school with people who could be my kids LOL.

I have the following questions for all you hospital nurses.

(1) Are all, or most, hospital nurses expected to give IV's or
take blood? and,

(2) Do students learn to administer IVs and take blood in school
as part of their school program? OR afterward? ?

I live in NJ but it's all right also if you could let me know how it is in your state?

I thank you for your answers.
Have a nice evening.

Theresa me-too

[SmilingBluEyes]

I see you did a GOOD job making your first thread/post. I hope you get some good advice soon. Meantime, welcome to allnurses.com!!!

[arizonanurse]

Yes, nurses have to start IVs. Some bigger hospitals have IV teams that will start IVs for you, but even then, you still have to do them occasionally - and most hospitals don't have IV teams.

WRT drawing blood - most hospitals have lab techs that will draw blood for you. At my hospital we usually only have to draw the babies and the really hard sticks. On weekends we only have one lab tech so I'll usually draw a couple of my own patients to help them out.

You usually learn how to draw blood and start IVs in class, and then you'll have the opportunity to practice in clinicals. Make sure to take every opportunity to practice that you can. Ask every nurse on the floor if anyone needs a new IV. Practice, practice, practice.

[me-too]

Before I begin my nursing program, I know that I will need to "get past" my phobia of needles. My phobia has been activated whenever I give blood or see an IV.

Has anyone else here struggled with this same phobia and gotten past it? I thought I read something about a "fear of needles" and then I could not locate that post again.

And, while in nursing school, would I be required to have my blood drawn by another student or have an IV inserted by another student?

Thanks everyone,,

[Jules A]

Hi,
Depending on your state I'd go to Walmart and buy a box of their ReliOn insulin syringes they are cheap like $13 for 100. Practice holding it, opening the cap, drawing up some H20 and injecting an orange. Hopefully if it isn't aimed at you that will decrease some of the anxiety and you can desensitize yourself. It is something that you will have to overcome.

As for whether or not other students will be practicing blood draws on you, my goodness I hope not. I never had to do that and can't say I would have been cool with a student trying to hit a vein on me. Hopefully that won't be an issue.

[me-too]

Miranda,

You gave such helpful advice to the person with MD phobia that I just have to ask how I can deal with my phobia of needles. I can see this hampering me if I had to draw blood and/or insert an IV.

My needle phobia (along with its resulting panic) has prevented me from proceeding with nursing school.

Also, do nursing schools require their students to draw blood and insert IVs on other students?

Thanks, Miranda

me-too

[NWGeorgiaFutureRN]

Does your school offer a phlebotomy class? I thought I was scared of needles until I took that class, I realized they didnt bother me at all. We even practiced on each other. Best of luck!

[lemonaidangel]

Oooh! I love giving shots! I didn't think I would when I first started NS, but now I think it's a lot of fun. I am the injection queen in my clinical group. All of my patients have told me that they can't even feel it when I have to poke them with needles. Maybe they are just distracted by my cute smile and good looks? lol

It's not hard. Just practice on some oranges... and when it comes time to give an injection to an actual person, pretend like you are practicing on the orange.

[allimariee]

I've found that I'm fine with needles when using them on patients i.e. for injections/IVs, etc... but for me, I still can't watch when I donate blood or have titres drawn. You may find that you're fine with using them on others even though you're scared of having them used on you.

Oh, and we're not taught to draw blood or start IVs in school, so no, nobody sticks anyone in my program. We practice on injecta-pads.

[me-too]

Thanks to all who have responded so far. I really like the idea about injecting something in an orange, and I will do that.

However, I suspect my phobia with needles has more to do with injecting something in a vein,,,looking at the vein, etc. Any ideas for that one?

And, do nursing schools require phlebotmy classes be taken before you graduate?