I start nursing school on the 11th (yay!) and have been reading about how everyone is excited, anxious, and nervous about what is to come. I, too, feel the same way and am looking forward to the first day. I read through some of the posts from the thread discussing fear of needles and blood. I just have to ask, is anyone else nervous about having classmates draw your own blood and giving you injections? During orientation in November, we had to sign a form stating that we would allow our classmates to draw blood/give injections on us. I've had experience performing these procedures on dogs and cats, and even though I know humans are different, I don't have a problem with the thought of me learning and performing the procedures on my classmates. However, I am nervous as heck thinking about my future classmates practicing on me. I have experienced my vein collapsing which almost made me pass out, but that was also partly due to the fact that I was dehydrated and the nurse was having a difficult time with my vein due to that.
Is there anyone else, besides me, who has a fear of this? lol I hope I don't get a partner with a shaky hand. We all have to learn somehow, though. :)
Our school doesn't let students stick each other, just on the dummy arms/legs or whatever. But I volunteered for a H1N1 flu clinic so I got my real life practice in. Honestly, it's a breeze and isn't much different from the fake stuff in lab. Now IV's are a different story....
We're not allowed to stick each other...with one exception. We give each other flu shots each Fall. In our sophomore year, we also run flu shot clinics for one day of our clinicals...so we get a lot of IM opportunities :-)
Specializes in Critical Care, Organ Transplant, Educ.
Well...my reply is probably different from the other posters....
But first of all...yes...when I was a student...I was extremely fearful of being "poked"...I even teared up a lil...but kept on going.
You see....to me I think its better to practice on each other first before trying it on patients for the first time. Although nerve racking....practicing on each other first is usually less stressful and when it comes to implementing that on our patients...it wouldn't be our first time and the confidence level is slightly higher...and the rate of success higher. I also teach IV cert classes...and I make my students poke each other...but it is California's state board requirement that "live" venipunctures be performed before issuing certification. I do carry liability/malpractice insurance just in case..but seriously...have you heard of a nursing student die from practicing an IV????
So yes...it is fearful...but really I think it builds a lot more confidence.
We were told not to practice on each other and if we did or if we practiced on family/friends, that that was grounds for expulsion from the program. I don't know exactly why though...
We were told not to practice on each other and if we did or if we practiced on family/friends, that that was grounds for expulsion from the program. I don't know exactly why though...
Really? You don't know why?
At a guess, I'd say that a group of students, without any supervision, doing invasive procedures on each other is likely not the safest of situations :-)
Woops! I phrased that wrong. I mean I don't know why we don't practice on each other like others do in their classes. I know it's a bad idea to practice on people unsupervised (though I know people who've done it on their spouses...o.o) lol. That's just asking for trouble.
I'm sure we will at least be able to practice on a mannequin before we "stick" one another, so I will try and not let it get to me. I don't want to pass out in class while my classmate is drawing my blood! lol At least I know my left vein is better than my right (it is easily visible through the skin and is nice sized), so I will be sure to let my partner know.
I was finally able to purchase my books today and picked up my lab bag for med surg. We have a ton of catheter kits, wound changing kits, an enema kit, etc., and even though I am feeling overwhelmed just looking at my supplies, I just have to remember to go in with confidence when learning skills. We are jumping right in on Monday morning in Fundamentals lab. I can't believe that after my long and grueling wait for my acceptance letter, the first day of classes is only four days away!
However, I am nervous as heck thinking about my future classmates practicing on me.
Depends on your program, but you might have to get over it. My classmates and I did intradermal injections of saline on each other but it went fine. We were all pretty nervous about it, but all agreed it was no big deal.
Specializes in Emergency Dept. Trauma. Pediatrics.
We weren't allowed to practice on each other at school. Had to do with bodily fluids and stuff. I wouldn't mind the injections as much if we did (although I rather have my blood drawn then get injections any day) but I wouldn't let students practice blood draws on me. I am a very hard stick and 2 out of 3 seasoned people have trouble getting my veins let alone someone who has never done it.
Thankfully, it's a non issue.
It worries me more though to have a Patient be the first real person I do it on, thankfully I have had a few people say I can do it on them first to help relieve a little of that anxiety.
Depends on your program, but you might have to get over it. My classmates and I did intradermal injections of saline on each other but it went fine. We were all pretty nervous about it, but all agreed it was no big deal.
Like I said, I'm sure we will be practicing on mannequins before we do anything with our classmates. It's not something that I "have to get over" as I don't have an extreme phobia about it. I'm sure many people would get a little nervous knowing it would be someone's first time doing a blood draw or injection on them. Heck, I get nervous when experienced nurses draw my blood after experiencing my vein collapsing. :)
I'm just overall nervous, anxious, and excited about the first day of classes. I actually can't wait to start studying. I wish we would have been given a syllabus early so that I could have been studying this week, lol. I'm sure I will have plenty once classes begin though!
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tokyoROSE, BSN, RN
1 Article; 526 Posts
Our school doesn't let students stick each other, just on the dummy arms/legs or whatever. But I volunteered for a H1N1 flu clinic so I got my real life practice in. Honestly, it's a breeze and isn't much different from the fake stuff in lab. Now IV's are a different story....