Have you experienced bias from being a left-handed Nurse?

Nurses General Nursing

Published

I am currently doing research for a paper in my Pre-Req English Comp class. It is about the difficulties faced by the left handed college student and that of left handed Nurses. Can anyone please elaborate on the difficulties you have faced as a left handed nursing student or as a practicing left handed nurse? Did you feel there was any discrimination or bias toward your handedness? Were you able to use right handed equipment efficiently?

Any and all input will be greatly appreciated. So all you lefties out there, here is your time to speak up.:yeah:

Thanks Everybody!

0 Votes
Specializes in EMS, ER, GI, PCU/Telemetry.

not really any difficulties, but when i was learning how to start IV's, i had such a hard time getting a good anchor (bc my hand was in the way) that i learned how to do them right handed also. can't do much else with that hand, but i can start an IV.

there really isn't too much right or left handed equipment per say, but a pair of left handed bandage scissors would be nice!!

0 Votes

Some clinical aspects were a little difficult to do after watching a right handed instructer, but that has been the same with everything I have been taught in my life. Truthfully, I know many, many LEFT handed nurses!

0 Votes

I am left-handed and I can't say that it's caused me any problems in school or as a nurse. Of course I have spent my entire life adjusting and compensating in a right handed world, so I am not sure I would even notice!

0 Votes

there really isn't too much right or left handed equipment per say, but a pair of left handed bandage scissors would be nice!!

Allhearts sells them!

http://www.allheart.com/pm53l.html?src=smx&ovchn=INK&ovcpn=SiteMatch&ovcrn=SMX&ovtac=PI

:yeah:

0 Votes

No real biases. When learning phlebotomy I was lucky enough to have a left handed teachers aid.

Still giving injections I some time have my hand in the way of my self.

The right sided desks are a pain for a lefty to sit in and try to write.

I do everything lefty except use scissors. My right handed parents taught me to use scissors.

Actually at the clinic I work at lefties are the majority. It is said that left handers lean toward medical and creative jobs.

0 Votes
Specializes in LTC.

no biases I just hated right handed desks.I did well clinically I just had to get on the opposite side of the maniken when practing my skills.

0 Votes
Specializes in EMS, ER, GI, PCU/Telemetry.
no biases I just hated right handed desks.I did well clinically I just had to get on the opposite side of the maniken when practing my skills.

yeah, that was always a pain in the butt.

i remember the first time i tried to do a foley cath, lol. i was all discombobulated.

i just stand more towards the foot of the bed now.

0 Votes
Specializes in Rodeo Nursing (Neuro).

The first IV I ever started, I started right-handed. I suppose it was what I was used to seeing. I didn't remember I was left-handed until it was time to screw the hub on. Blood everywhere! But now I intentionally do some right-handed when it's easier to reach.

I haven't met any active discrimination, and haven't had nearly as much trouble with equipment as I did when I was a carpenter. But I am going to look into those left-handed scissors.

0 Votes
Specializes in everywhere.

I'm a left-handed nurse as well. Like the other poster, I have learned in a right-handed world and adjust accordingly. I do have to stand on the other side of the bed in order to place a foley, and adjust myself when starting IV's. I have just adjusted to what needed to be done.

Interesting post

0 Votes
Specializes in CTICU.

Apart from being told how awkward I look when I do stuff, and having to figure out which hand I prefer doing injections/drawing blood/inserting IVs etc, no real problems. I'm so used to using R handed scissors, I can't use my left hand to cut now! I am reasonably ambidextrous which is annoying as I have to do things with both hands until I decide which is better for a certain task.

0 Votes
Specializes in LTC, Subacute Rehab.

I'm in the weird situation of being a right-handed nurse who learned to insert Foleys left-handed... it was the way the mannequin in nsg school was positioned.

0 Votes
+ Add a Comment