Who is REALLY GOOD with needles?

IndyGypsyNurse, BSN, RN · Mar 27, 2003

Hey! WOW! Thanks everyone for the really wonderful tips. I really like the distraction methods everyone mentioned. I also liked having the process explained to me. Also, I liked the idea of using chicken to inject, that is ingenius, cool idea. I am learning so much from this forum, I am addicted to it!!!!

Tons of Thanks

Adria

WalMart_ADN · Mar 27, 2003

hypothetical situation.....

does anyone WEAR gloves while drawing blood, doing IV's..but tear the finger off cause it's just too much of a PITA to try and feel a little baby vein through a layer of latex/vinyl??

totally hypothetical, i swear....

adrienurse, LPN · Mar 28, 2003

I am so good at giving needles! So much that I develloped a desease just so that I could treat myself to monthly IM injections. It rocks! [sarcasm alert]

Flynurse · Mar 29, 2003

Quote

Originally posted by WalMart_ADN
hypothetical situation.....

Ummm...feel first w/o glove....then use the smallest pair that fit on my hands to do the IV. I can still feel a little bit. I always make sure I wear gloves cause I tend to make a mess when I do IV's.

liberalrn · Mar 29, 2003

Sounds like you got some great advice on this thread. May I add one more thing? Please ask your instructor to teach you and your class on the appropraite Z-track technique...... for iron shots, it's the only way to go. I have seen the permanent marks left by faulty technique--these people now have some odd looking tatoo like marks on their hips and buttocks! It is not hard, and works like a charm! I have seen too many new nurses come thru who DON't possess this knowledge or have forgotten it...just one of my pet peeves.....

clhsunfire · Mar 29, 2003

Trust me, you will get over the wary feeling of giving needles. I've been having blood drawn at least once a month since 1991; yeah sure it might hurt sometimes and those IV's "ouch" when you don't have good veins, but trust GIVING NEEDLES IS A WHOLE LOT BETTER THAN RECEIVING THEM. I was on procrit for a while adn I gave myself a SC injection once a week and to truth you the truth it wasn't the needle that hurt going in, it was the awful burning medicine. So don't worry if you are going to hurt the patient; like others have said, some people don't care about the pain and others complain. Practice makes perfect.

Christine

Edward,IL · Mar 30, 2003

1) Read and reread many times the text re needle size, syringe size, angle of needle to patient for different routes. Memorize this.

2) Explain to the patient, "This is going to hurt for only less than 3 secs, then it's over. I would like you to take a slow deep breath, let it all the way out. Now take another deep breath, (inject needle just as patient begins to exhale. You may need them to take a second deep breath if it's a large amount of med.). Inject slowly, remove needle. I also take a deep breath simultaneously with patient. This provides distraction for the patient, assures good oxygenation (some patients are so deathly afraid of needles that they can faint during a simple injection.) This technique has served me well for twenty years.

3) Check out the web site and publications and e-mail to Intraveneous Nurses Society for IV protocals, peripheral start techniques and central line (ie Groshong, Hickman, Broviac) standards of care.

4) With all injectable meds, remember the FIVE RIGHTS.

5) For chemotherapy (and some good tips and insights that apply to all IV meds), check out the Oncology Nurses Society web site and their journal, Oncology Nurses Forum.

psychonurse · Mar 30, 2003

No wonder Heather has so many posts.........she does a lot of smilies and that is another post....just giving you a bad time Heather. I had a lot of bad experiences when I was a student and I was the practice "dummy." The person that gave me the IM injection shoved it in like she was drilling for oil. Then when the student started an IV on me she went through the vein and my hand blew up with blood and it looked a sight for about two weeks. I would have hated if they would have had me be the dummy for NG tube insertion since I have a deviated septum....:imbar

phn92 · Mar 30, 2003

I give a lot of vaccines especially to kids. I always explain everything that I am going to do before I do it. This also goes for the parents who are usually holding the child. I usually try to have them count while I give the injection. Some kids have tried to blow bubbles, it does seem to help some kids. Then there are some who are so frightened, it doesn't matter what you do, just get it over with!!! Older kids and adults I tell them to relax their arms as much as possible. "Like a wet noodle" is usually what I tell them! Of course this came with alot of Practice like you have already heard!!

gwenith, BSN, RN · Mar 30, 2003

Try flicking the skin with you r fingernail before you inject - it dulls the sharp sensation of the needle and. I have had people state that it even makes Clexane (Enoxaparin) injections relatively painless.

lateblumer · Mar 30, 2003

even the most gentle of nurses, make it hurt every now and then. every patient is different and so are the textures of their skin. practice makes painless

Pediatric Critical Care Columnist · Apr 3, 2003

I've been told that I give shots and start IVs that are painless. My trick is to scrub the skin vigorously with a SoluPrep or alcohol swab for at least 30 seconds, let the skin dry briefly and then get on with it. It's the same idea as the pressing and flicking... stimulate as many receptors as you can and they all end up confused. (S)he who hesitates is not liked much though, so swift, smooth punctures at the correct angle are best. I've been drawing blood specimens from my son for years and he has never once complained. He makes more of a fuss over the tourniquet... When my daughter had surgery on her elbow, she wanted me to put in her IV. Wasn't allowed, but was flattered nonetheless.