Did I screw up my first injection?

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Hello everyone! I am in my first semester of nursing school, and we have officially been in clinicals for four weeks! Today was my fourth day at the hospital and I totally screwed up my very first subq injection (I think)!

First off, I was VERY nervous. I've been waiting weeks to do this, so I was feeling all kinds of emotions. Physical therapy, the patient, her mom, my nurse, and myself were all in the room, and the physical therapist was waiting on me.

My nurse said I counted too slow (first no, no), but then after giving the injection (in the abdomen), I pulled back on the plunger with the needle still injected into the skin!!! Why on earth I did that, I have no idea. I know the proper technique. I aced my check off on the mannequin.

Has anyone else ever done this?? I am beating myself up way too hard over it. I know everyone makes mistakes, I just feel like an idiot.

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It's always easier on the mannequin! Don't worry. Sounds like a lot of pressure on you with all those people observing. Learn from the mistake and move on. I'm sure you'll never do it again after this lol.

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Well you won't make that mistake again, and that's what's important

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Don't beat yourself up! I would have felt SO nervous if all of those people where in the room for my first injection! I bet you'll never make that mistake again ;)

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Specializes in Nephrology Home Therapies, Wound Care, Foot Care..

Purple Clover is right, you'll never make that mistake again! I know it feels mortifying now, but cheer up- there are bigger mistakes ahead! Seriously, it's minor, you're a first semester student, you didn't hurt your patient. In the end that is what matters, you didn't hurt your patient. It's okay, give yourself a break.

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