What's it like the first time you...

Mudwoman · Dec 11, 2006

For me, inserting an NG tube is the hardest thing. The first one I ever did....the patient vomited the end up and out. So, the NG was up her nose and out her mouth. I then started vomiting too and had to have another nurse cut that one off and redo it. I have never forgotten that. On a male, pull the member up if you have problems getting the cath by the prostate.

cherokeesummer · Dec 11, 2006

Give injections, draw blood, IV's, foley catheters, etc??
What is the hardest to learn? Is it terrifying:uhoh21: ?? The only thing I KNOW I have to learn this semester is the foley catheter. Is that difficult? Does it just slide right in? LOL, I'm terrified I will torture my first patient!

I think it is scary the first and second time you do anything but with time I think it gets better. Practice and guidance are what got me where I need to be. I've done a male foley, a female foley and an IV. The male foley was easy but awkward, the female foley was hard, my instructor started a new policy for herself though of having two students so one can hold the labia. It is way too hard to maintain sterility! Of course in the real world having two nurses probably wn't be an option but hey its a help!

The IV I got on my first try and I was so excited...it was GREAT! But I'm sure I will be nervous the next time too!

Imafloat, BSN, RN · Dec 11, 2006

Terrifying?
No, terrifying is being told your 11 year old has leukemia. Terrifying is standing in front of an altar and choosing the man you will live with until the day you die. Terrifying is getting on a plane at O'Hare airport to fly to Nairobi, Kenya, where not a single soul on the entire continent knows you.
Let's keep things in perspective here.

Everyone's experiece and perspectives are all a bit different.

Imafloat, BSN, RN · Dec 11, 2006

I graduated 3 weeks ago and I have never started an IV or drew blood from an adult. I did my practicum in a NICU and I got really good at NG tubes, trach changes, and heel sticks. I am really nervous about doing my first IV, especially on the babies.

I agree that things are more difficult in school when you are getting graded/rated on everything you do.

My first injection was hard for me, I just dreaded breaking someone's skin intentionally. I did it and that was that and now they are no biggie. Before I went to nursing school I thought that injections would be the hardest part of being a nurse...which was before my introduction to MRSA stool.

CityKat, BSN, RN · Dec 11, 2006

why is that?

According to my clinical instructor in my first semester, it will be the MD to insert them since you run the risk of rupturing an enlarged prostate. Since then, I have heard that numerous nurses insert the male foley. Unfortunately, I was never taught hands on with it, but had to read about it. The hospital where I did my med surge I and II was amazing. But, their protocol is the MD inserts the male foley and the RN's do the female foleys. Recently, my professor for Med Surg II said if the bladder is enlarged, than you can rupture the prostate. Sooo..

that's why. I would love to insert one since I have inserted one on the female. I hate to go into a job with never having seen one done, you know?

I'm hoping for a male insertion next semester in my internship:)

RN 4 U · Dec 11, 2006

I think the hardest thing abut learning to insert a foley is maintaining sterile. You have to be aware of every little thing you do to ensure that the kit stays sterile. Also when you go to insert it you have to remember that 1 hand is the dirty hand which is usually your non-dominant hand when you spread the labia majora or hold the member and you have to let that stay in the position until the dominant hand inserts the catheter. then and only then can you let your non dominant hand go. If i were you i would practice the principles of sterile technique b/c this is the key that determines if you will pass or fail your praticum or prevent an infection to a patient in the hospital.

RN 4 U · Dec 11, 2006

To user (JOV) I think this is nursing forum for new and older nurses. Yes it is terrifying when you have never done it before and you are afraid of hurting someone. You keep things in perspective here. What is terrifying to others might not be terrifiying to you, but it is terrifying in the eyes of all of us new nurses.

jov · Dec 12, 2006

To user (JOV) I think this is nursing forum for new and older nurses. Yes it is terrifying when you have never done it before and you are afraid of hurting someone. You keep things in perspective here. What is terrifying to others might not be terrifiying to you, but it is terrifying in the eyes of all of us new nurses.

Well you may choose to use the word Terrify if you like and you may even choose to work yourself up into being terrified about something like IVs and Foleys. I shared my opinion that "terrifying" ought to be reserved for other circumstances. Using that word is doing nothing more than scaring everyone silly. Have you ever seen panic spread from one end of the room to the other? That's exactly how it happens.

I would like to encourage the OP to be practical and focused, not terrified. But of course, it is up to each individual.

BTW I am a nursing student myself but no I am not terrified by doing procedures for the first time. So I think I have the right to post my perspective too LOL

WDWpixieRN, RN · Dec 13, 2006

For me, inserting an NG tube is the hardest thing. The first one I ever did....the patient vomited the end up and out. So, the NG was up her nose and out her mouth. I then started vomiting too and had to have another nurse cut that one off and redo it. I have never forgotten that.

:lol2:

Sorry....I couldn't help laughing while reading this because apparently you are an RN already, so you're long past this incident...but it helps those of us who still haven't dealt with "delicate situations" like this to know what others have gone through and not feel like like total failures if we, too, lose our cookies after something like this!! :eek:

Thanks for sharing!!

flygirls2, BSN · Dec 13, 2006

Thank you everyone for your answers!! It's good to know you all succeeded without any problems, hopefully I will too.

Terrifying?
No, terrifying is being told your 11 year old has leukemia. Terrifying is standing in front of an altar and choosing the man you will live with until the day you die. Terrifying is getting on a plane at O'Hare airport to fly to Nairobi, Kenya, where not a single soul on the entire continent knows you.
Let's keep things in perspective here.

Yes, let's do keep things in perspective! Let's also not blow them out of proportion.

And by the way, I HAVE been to Nairobi, Kenya where not a soul on the continent knew me. Except I flew out of Charlotte Douglas Intl Airport, but none the less, amusing comment--thanks:)

firstyearstudent · Dec 13, 2006

Terrifying is getting on a plane at O'Hare airport to fly to Nairobi, Kenya, where not a single soul on the entire continent knows you.
Let's keep things in perspective here.

That doesn't sound terrifying to me. But then your perspective is different then mine.

The only thing about doing new procedures that is terrifying to me is being dressed down and humiliated for a minor mistake by an instructor who just might be Satan.

flygirls2, BSN · Dec 13, 2006

Ok, well EDIT to my original use of the word 'terrified'--- to 'anxious/nervous'. I really didn't think anyone would get that literal on my wording.