clinicals the needles are getting to me, please help

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I am just starting nusing school. everything else is fine, but for some reason iv sticks are getting to me bad. I am scar3ed about doing my first stick that I may even pass out. I dont know why this one thing erks me but I must get over it, has anybody been in this predicament, or have any advice for me please....

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Most instructors will find a very willing and open minded patient for your first stick. In my case, it was another nurse who was in the hospital (and I kidded with her I would "return the favor" one day if I was ever hospitalized).

My instructor was right there guiding me. I was very careful to listen to instruction, she helped me find the vein.

I had to push deeper than I originally thought, and when you hit the vein, you'll feel a "pop" at the end of your needle and usually shortly after that you'll see your flash, and then advance it on through.

I got my first one. I felt like I had won the lottery.

Once I knew what to feel for (b/c I thought the vein was more shallow than what they were), I feel like I could do it again.

We are going to do a rotation through outpatient b/c all of them get an IV so we can practice.

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ok but it doesnt seem like needles bothered you, do you know anyone who was bothered by them and just got used to it. I hope my instructer is as willing as yours to find me a good first stick lol thankyou for the response

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Just remember to stay on your side of the bed/table. You are doing the stick, not getting it, so take a step back and don't empathize to much with the patient, if I stop to think it's going to hurt them it's harder to do. I have this process called "Mommy mode". It is like visualization I guess, when one of my kids would vomit as little toddlers I would focus on what had to be done and not what was actually happening, that way I was to busy to get nauseous too. Think of the patients arm as a dummy arm, or a cork board you are sticking a tack into. Break it down in your mind as steps in a procedure and it may help distract you from what you are actually doing. This helps me hopefully it will you to, and you will get used to it I promise, I did phlebotomy for 3 years and it got to be a piece of cake. However, I still can't look when the nurse sticks me for blood!LOL!

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thankyou that was very helpful, i am staying as positive as possible and im happy to hear advice i really like this website. i need all the advice i can get and wil take it happily! thanks again

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Specializes in Ortho, Neuro, Detox, Tele.

I always apoligize first, but explain WHY I need to make sure that their IV is important to them.

I often just have the tunnel vision of trying to find a good vein, and often the patients will tell you where they usually get stuck. Needle-wise, you just have to be attentive and very careful...

I went through a sx rotation, and got 1 out of 15 sticks.....

Last night, though, I got my FIRST IV stick! on a realtively bad patient too....said I would stick him once...and got right in. It comes with time...good luck!

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1 out of 15! sounds tough! what makes it that difficult for you? how did you finally do it

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Specializes in Ortho, Neuro, Detox, Tele.

I think the whole coordination thing is what gets me....I HAVE to have everything ready to go...IV start kit, needles, j-loop, cath end, tape, etc....so, once I stick, I hate having to reach back and get whatever I need...and whenever someone moves, it goes bad....

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I am about to start school and I am worrying about this as well. Its not the needle part that bothers me... it is the vein part. Everytime I think about having to one day stick someone I scrunch my face up lol.

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Does anyone else dislike the word "stick"?

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How about skewer, lance, or puncture?:rolleyes:

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Specializes in Aged Care, General Acute,Theatre,Rehab,.

I am a needle phobic!!!!

No kidding.

When I was a student I ended up in tears in my Facilitators office throwing in the towel all because of needles.:no:

My fear transfered over to the fact that the oranges and plastic bums we practice on don't scream when we hurt them. REAL people do of course!

Therefore I was throwing away 3 years over MY fear.

Now, I am still terrified of MYSELF HAVING the injections, I cried again when it was FluVax time and almost fainted, but now, sick as this may be, when someone needs an injection I jump at it.

I LOVE giving injections! How sick is that? :eek:

I only like to give them as it helps my fear and I do them so quick and painlessly that I DON'T hurt.

I have even given my 12 year old needle phobic to the max, son an injection and he asked "When it is happening?" Already done.

The instructor I had with me through my first lot of inflicting pain on someone with something sharp was awesome. He guided me through step by step and the patient's where great also. They do understand that you are a student and don't know everything. You have to learn somewhere and on someone. They won't give you a grouchy, whinger as your first stick. But you will eventually get one.

My poor bum is ALWAYS the local hospital's student Nurse's practice bum, as I am in there every few months as a patient.

I ALWAYS tell the student honestly afterwards how they did.

I have only had one actually hurt me. She went in sssoooo slow. Ouch!

And I am STILL SCARED to death of needles. But it has to be done.

Just be glad it's not you on the end of it. That's what I think.

You will do fine.

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