Fear of Needles

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I am getting ready to start RN school and it is my understanding that the students practice giving each other shots, etc. I have a severe fear of needles and I am not to sure I can handle someone sticking me. If I do not let the other students practice on me, how will this effect my grade, etc?

Where I went to school we did not practice skills on one another, other than assessments, but I know that in some other schools this is common practice. Regardless, you have the right to refuse to let someone practice a skill on you if you are uncomfortable with it, no matter what the instructor may try to tell you. If it appeared that a refusal would effect your grade, I would definitely take that to a higher source. You absolutely do not have to submit to being poked with needles if you do not want to.

I didn't think i was a dinosaur.....but i must be......

when i went to school, we practiced just about every skill on each other.......

even including bed baths and those "painful IV insertions with saline".........

still have the scar.......but she probably still has mine......and it probably wasn't yesterday.........

and to the ???? of scared of needles.........

NO LONGER, unless i am the patient and on the other side of the rail.............

We do not practice shots or IV's on each other. In fact they do not teach us how to start IV's, we have to wait til we're out in the real world to do that.

I don't particularly like getting poked with needles but we did practice just the iv insertion on each other and on our instructors. I figure if someone is willing to let me practice on them I will suck it up and look the other way and let them do it to me. To tell you the truth you get so into doing the technique that the actually stick is not that big of a deal either way. Don't get me wrong some people have phobias but most of us get over it with repitition. I graduate in two weeks and I currently work in a hospital and work third shift, we practice on each other still quite often. good luck:)

When I started the nursing program, my 2 biggest fears were giving injections and starting IVs. I knew if I failed it would be because of my inability to conquer those things.

So when it came time to practice, we used a practice pad. For testing we had to choose a classmate and give 1 IM and 1 SQ injection of course I was scared, but after getting over the shock of doing that first injection the rest have been smooth sailing:) I now give injections comfortably and confidently..and I know you will also:) Just be patient with yourself!

We also did IVs on one another and started out with a small butterfly and went on to a large needle for the test. We did a total of 3 sticks, believe me I hate getting IVs but made it through!! I've started them in the hospital setting and conquering both of these fears was such a high..I knew I could do anything after accomplishing this!!

You will be amazed at the things you can do..but you will be able to do them:) Just have faith in YOU!! {{Hugs}}

~Channa

Specializes in LTC, ER, ICU,.
Originally posted by micro

I didn't think i was a dinosaur.....but i must be......

when i went to school, we practiced just about every skill on each other.......

even including bed baths and those "painful IV insertions with saline".........

still have the scar.......but she probably still has mine......and it probably wasn't yesterday.........

and to the ???? of scared of needles.........

NO LONGER, unless i am the patient and on the other side of the rail.............

In LPN school, we practice veinpuncture and other skills on each other. I will have to wait to see how it goes in RN school, come August.

I'm a big ol' shameless needle-phobe!! :D

Yeah, we had to give eachother injections, learn to start IV's on eachother....I had to stick my head between my knees and breathe out of a paper bag after getting a FINGERSTICK BLOOD GLUCOSE.....:chuckle

My instructors just laughed....I could dish it out fine, and that's what mattered....;).

I'll let you in on a little secret, lots of nurses are weenies when it comes to being the pincushion!! There have been several discussions about that very subject on this very bb!!! You're not alone, you're not a freak, and you're not gonna fail....just remember what I always say, 'siderails up, please....okay, go ahead! :D'

HATE needles! I couldn't imagine being a diabetic and giving MYSELF shots every day! And shay, I agree, finger sticks SUCK! I actually hyperventilated when I was getting all my goodies to start nursing school.

We never practiced on each other in nursing school, except for the finger sticks. (I didn't want to look like a wuss, so I caved). But I honestly would have quit if I had to let the goofus next to me start an IV on me!

Even if this is something your school practices, you have every right to refuse.

Or hide. :chair:

Heather

Specializes in Community Health Nurse.

In my nursing program, we practiced injections on oranges, started IVs on dummy arms, then gave injections in the clinical area once we were passed off on them by the instructors. By the time I graduated, sticking people was a very comfortable task for me. I dont' care for needles to be injected into me, but I have noooooooo problem injecting someone else with a needle. :chuckle

Specializes in Home Health.

I LOVE to give injections!!! I think it's a sickness. Tee hee!

As far as getting them, well after my C-section, I couldn't wait to let that student nurse stuick me with that needle, and fast!

Practice? I don't think I would enjoy injections being practiced on me, but I have let new grads draw my blood many times, just so they won't be afraid.

We never did this kind of practice on each other in school, not sure I would have made it through. We did our injections on oranges.

Never had to stick each other, in nursing school. Guess I lucked out. We used fake arms that had red dye in them and also oranges. I also hate needles. Hate getting shots but I love giving them..............

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