Gave my first shot today!

Nursing Students General Students

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And I'm happy to have it done! You know, the nerves about doing one the first time are so much worse than actually doing it. The worst part is just having the instructor hovering about. It's supposed to be reassuring, I think, but it's nerve-wracking. She actually told me to stop shaking - as if I had control over THAT. But it went fine, no problem. Anyway - only YOU guys would understand being happy over such a thing :lol2:.

Kelly

Congratulations on getting your first shot over with! What kind of injection did you have to do? How'd you practice injections? Did you get tested on it before you gave your first one? We were tested on them, but had to pick an index card with a scenario on it. Lucky me got one dealing with a demerol injection so I had to pick out the right equipment--carpuject and the correct needle size for the dorsal gluteal site. I was so nervous! Some people lucked out and were tested on how to give an insulin injection.

But as for my first shot, we did a flu clinic at the nursing home back in October. We each gave 4 injections. I was so nervous because my previous CI lacked patience (I believe my CI now is much worse, but that's a whole different story!) She didn't say anything bad, just watched us and was impressed when people would say it didn't hurt.

Then we switched clinical spots along with instructors. My first day to the hospital I was assigned to give 2 injections to a man who was impatient to be discharged. On top of that the dean of nursing happened to be evaluating my group. I was so anxious drawing up the medications. She kept telling me I was doing stuff wrong and showing me techniques my lab instructor never taught. Then she asked where I was going to give the injection and I could kick myself for blurting out bracial. She gasped and said she wouldn't want a shot there, but I meant to say deltoid. She finally left the med room cause she realized she was making me anxious. My instructor was OK though and when I gave the injections things went smoothly. I've also given insulin injections which isn't so bad. I'm nervous about dorsal gluteal injections though.

Yep, I need to get over my anxiety issues. They're not helping me out one bit.

But as for my first shot, we did a flu clinic at the nursing home back in October. We each gave 4 injections.

That's what we did - but we were only there for two hours, and there were eight of us, so most of us only got to do one. I wasn't sure I'd even get one, that's why I was so happy when I finally got my turn. I wanted to get it over with.

We had practiced in the lab on these "water pillows" basically. I passed that as part of my med pass skills test and it was awhile ago, so I was afraid I'd have forgotten something. But I did fine, I was just a bit shaky! I would've rather have done more because I'm sure I'll still be nervous the next time . . . but not AS nervous.

Kelly

Specializes in Hemodialysis, Home Health.

Waterpillows???:chuckle

Whatever happened to the ol' ORANGE ??? :D

Good for you ! :)

Always a relief to get that one behind you ! :balloons:

Specializes in Case mgmt., rehab, (CRRN), LTC & psych.

congratulations! :smiley_aa

when i was a student, we practiced im injections on grapefruits, sq injections on oranges, id injections on wieners, and iv therapy on skinny balloons (somewhat resembling veins) filled with coffee.

Congratulations! I ended up giving my first shot about 3 weeks ago. We went to a local factory that manufactures lawnmowers and gave them all a flu vaccine. It was a great first time experience. I'm glad to get it over with. We practiced and got tested on it in lab before we got to do it for real. We used oranges for SubQ and IM injections and a chicken wing (raw) for ID. It was kind of neat giving a chicken wing an injection.

Specializes in Burns, ICU.

I did mine on a water bag and then we went to a clinic to give flu shots - HELLO big difference and very scary. I got through it, but that waterbag did not help me at all.

Congrats on giving your first shot!!! Next up for me is IV's in January!!! Scary!

Specializes in Med Surg, ER, OR.

Never had fruit in my lab (guess we were fruity enough) ;) We actually used these dummy models that felt like a buttcheek. Instructors said that when they used fruit, they would get spoiled, and that these models were cheaper (over a period of several years)

Kind of like this:

http://www.limbsandthings.com/uk/products.php?id=254

And I'm happy to have it done! You know, the nerves about doing one the first time are so much worse than actually doing it. The worst part is just having the instructor hovering about. It's supposed to be reassuring, I think, but it's nerve-wracking. She actually told me to stop shaking - as if I had control over THAT. But it went fine, no problem. Anyway - only YOU guys would understand being happy over such a thing :lol2:.

Kelly

LOL! Congrats! I remember my first time so vividly. I had to call EVERYONE and tell them about. But you're right; only others like us really understand being so happy about getting to stab someone with a needle:lol2:.

LOL, my school we practiced injections on each other before giving one in a real setting. I'm jealous, becuase come spring during the RN program we actualy practice IV and blood draws on each other. I'd rather not have anyone practice one me.

also if ya want practice, ask your instructors for a vial of saline and a few needles and practice on family and friends, it's priceless.

We actually buy a skills pack each year that we use. This year we had about 20 needles, different vials, ampules, etc., syringes, catheters, isolation kit, everything. We can practice all day long if we want to heh.

Were lucky in the fact we get to give all our shots to each other before we go out and attack the public in our clinicals. But as a nursing student I can relate to the two big endeavors which are, your first shot and your first med. Good luck it gets easier all the time.

Dave 5000

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