Previous IV Drug User

Nursing Students Pre-Nursing

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Hey everyone,

I was an IV drug user from 2008-2010, but since then I have gotten clean and do not use drugs anymore. I'm apprehensive about the prospect of learning about IVs and blood draws while in school.

I've had my blood drawn a couple of times since I have gotten clean and have fared okay, but it was very difficult for me, since my main connection to a needle being inserted into my arm is with drug use.

My mine concern is about the experience I will have with fellow students practicing on me and practicing on fellow students. I feel like an inexperienced person trying to practice on me will bring back terrible memories and I'd like any experiences or tips from people who have been through this. I know I can overcome it, but I'm not sure exactly how.

Thanks!

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Specializes in Pediatric/Adolescent, Med-Surg.

I have no advice but wanted to say congrats on 3 years clean! That is a great accomplishment.

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I have no advice but wanted to say congrats on 3 years clean! That is a great accomplishment.

Thank you so much!

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

I've been to nursing school twice (LVN program in 2005 and LPN-to-RN completion program in 2009), and students did not practice on each other during both experiences.

In fact, I never learned how to start an IV or draw blood during my entire time in school. I picked up these skills on the job.

You are not the one who is going to be stuck. In all likelihood, you'll learn these skills by sticking patients during clinical rotations where you get to practice hands-on skills in a real healthcare setting. Good luck to you.

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Specializes in Forensic Psych.

First of all, congrats on 3 years clean! That's no small feat.

More on topic, I absolutely cannot imagine you'll be starting IVs on one another. I wouldn't let anyone in my cohort get near me with a needle!

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Specializes in Acute Care, Rehab, Palliative.

You don't practice on each other in school.

Best of luck in school and congratulations on turning things around.

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Way to go on your new way of life!!

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Specializes in Med Surg.

We don't practice on each other at my school either. So if that's what's tripping you up, I wouldn't worry about it too much. I think most schools think that would be too much liability with too little supervision (cause you know students would be practicing on themselves and others out of class). In fact, our supplies aren't even necessarily sterile because we use them on dummies, and we're TOLD they aren't sterile so that we don't get any ideas about using them on people.

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Specializes in Oncology, Critical Care.

can't practice on each other at my school, due to insurance and legal reasons (probably the same for most schools). cant do injections or anything else on each other. when we got to our clinical site we were able to go blood glucose, but that was because the clinical insurance covered us for it.

congrats on getting and staying clean!

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My bro took a phlebotomy course and they practiced on each other.

Congrats on your sobriety!!

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Specializes in Medical-ICU.

That's awesome on your sobriety. Just take it one day at a time. This program is so crazy you will have plenty of other things running through your mind.

I had a friend who was a previous drug user that made sure to really connect with their support system because the meds she use to abuse that were all around during clinicals but also the added stress she endured while in the program so my very humble advice is to maybe keep your support system close and lean on them because I know I need them now more than ever just for the nursing program itself.

Oh and the only pricking we have done on each other or ourselves and allowed to do are finger sticks.

Congrats again for both achievements. You seem like a strong person so if you fought that battle you can certainly do nursing!

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Specializes in Hospitalist Medicine.

My phlebotomy class practiced on each other. However, from what I've heard from nursing students ahead of me in the program, we will not be practicing on each other. Just the sim lab and patients in clinicals. I think I'd rather practice on a fellow student first! My first blood draw in phlebotomy was stressful enough on a willing participant. I guess I'll just have to see what happens this fall in clinicals!

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