How are you with needles?

[feralnostalgia]

so, I'm just curious, are there any nurses out there who can draw other people's blood or start IVs just fine but freak out when it happens to them? I just went to the doctor's office today and almost fainted from having blood drawn (granted, I had a fever of 101 and hadn't slept last night or eaten for the last day or two, and had just had other rather unpleasant tests done). my mom's whole side of the family seems to have a biological predisposition to being sensitive about these kinds of things...its rather embarrassing.

did IVs make you uncomfortable before they became a part of your daily work?

can you still be a good nurse with problems like this? I think it bothers me way more when its happening to me than other people, but I'm only doing pre-nursing classes right now so I've never gotten the chance to do something like this with someone else, aside from dogs. I used to work at a kennel, plenty of nasty clean up there, and occasional injections, and I managed those fine. I'm really hoping that means I'll be ok with patients, even if I'm not the stoutest patient myself.

[CathyLew]

Ok, I don't mind IV's or getting stuck for Lab draws.... but I HATE IM shots! for some reason, I can actually hear that crunching thrugh my tissue as the needle goes in!!!!

I can't watch if I get an IM shot... I have to sit down, and I get cold chills.

when it comes to IV's I Should cringe! I have those veins that look great, but have valves and roll. When I came in for my Appy, the nurses in the ED played rocks/paper/sisors to see who had to start my IV! (It took 3 tries) When I had my Insurance physical, it took the Insurance nurse 5 tries to draw my bloodwork! At that point I was holding the vein for her, so she could fish for it with the needle! and I gave blood at the red cross.... it took them 5 tries to stick me!!!!! after that I started volenteering for new nurses that needes sticks. Let them get used to rolling veins. But I would not volenteer for an IM shot! Just bizzar on my part.

Oh and I have no problem with needles myself. I used to work in an animal research lab. We had to start IV's on rabbit ears, mouse tails.... I am good with a needle. I would just rather have an IV than an IM injection any day!

[systoly]

I always thought people afraid of shots or blood draws were overly dramatic, until I was tasked with teaching a full bird colonel to self administer insulin (this was before the advent of pens). He had no trouble drawing it up correctly, but could not bring himself to inject. He had seen action in two wars and I knew he had been awarded the silver star for single handedly charging and taking out an enemy machine gun nest. In other words, this guy was no wuss. So there must be a predisposition which appears to be extremely difficult to combat.

[blondy2061h, MSN, RN]

I don't mine most needles. I actually feel more comfortable having someone stick me than needing to stick someone. I rarely have to actually stick my patients, and I feel bad when I do. Guess I'm too sympathetic.

Those one-time-use lancets are awful. *Real* lancing devices meant for daily use aren't nearly that bad. Not a fan of IM's either. I'd rather have an IV started than get an IM shot.

[Roy Fokker, BSN, RN]

I donate blood and plasma on a regular, clockwork basis. I have great veins... they're just not "anatomically normal" (BIG surprise isn't it? "Gee Roy. Is there ANY part of you that IS normal?? Huh?!" :icon_roll )

I still remember the last time I needed a CT scan done.

Long story short - I ended up sitting there guiding the student tech [this was the second time she was attempting to start a line on me] step by step: "Left just a bit more... a little more...." etc.

Besides, I was the favorite person to "stick" when I was in school :)

I guess I have no problems with needles.

cheers,

[PICNICRN, BSN, RN]

No problem sticking others... but I do look the other way when I need my blood drawn or an IV start by someone else. However....... I did place an IV in myself once and give myself a liter of NS out of despiration with a bad gastro bug.

[Pepper The Cat, BSN, RN]

23 years as a nurse.

9 operations - still will requres more due to ongoing medical problems.

Still cannot watch them draw blood, practically hyperventilated on the OR table during last OR procedure. As soon as I sat on the OR table, I began to show anxiety. Thanks to the great OR nurse, who just lay me down. put on O2 and

said - RELAX!

By the way - I have fabulous veins - you could put a garden hose in my veins they are so good - but I am still scared too death as soon as I get into a lab or OR. Of course - I blame it on 2 reasons: 1 - first major OR I was 7 and 2- as an RN - I know what can go wrong!!

I'm telling you - its so hard to be a nurse and to be scared in the OR!

[akrn70]

I don't mind giving or getting IV or blood draws....what I hope I never have to get is a foley!!!!

[truern]

Like Roy I'm not anatomically correct. They've even pulled out ultrasound trying to find my veins for IVs for surgery. My veins twist and turn and are truly a work of art.

I hate hate hate...did I mention HATE...having to have blood drawn or an IV. Just the thought makes me sick.

Even my danged nerves in my mouth aren't right according to the endodontist that just did a root canal on a bottom molar without getting the tooth numb first. "If you can just hold on for a minute while I numb the NERVE we'll be in business"...ummm, yeah. I couldn't let GO I held on so hard!!

I have much sympathy for patients that are hard sticks...kindred spirits and all :)

[Roy Fokker, BSN, RN]

I don't mind giving or getting IV or blood draws....what I hope I never have to get is a foley!!!!

Yeah, I know I'm a guy and all that...

... but I don't think foleys hold a candle to NG tubes

If I ever present to the hospital with a GI bleed or something, just shoot me and be done with it. Please.

cheers,