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?

I expect to start my first nursing classes in August but I am a PCT and they just put me on the floor and let me practice on confused people or they let me stick people who they just gave morphine for their pain. I know it sounds bad but trust me it was better with morphine. I started my first INT on a man I'm good with a 22 guage; I need to start practicing with a 20 but most people say 20's hurt and that is my problem; I dont want to hurt people.

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When we learned to start IVs, we practiced on each other (we were already working as nurses). Thank God I used Emla cream; my "friend" stuck me with a spinal needle by mistake. Once the Emla wore off I felt it!!

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I too am one of those needle phobics. :( It took two people to hold me still when I was getting my finger poked for a glucoscan test. Forget "real" needles. Luckily we did not practice injecting or venipuncture on each other, or I would have spent the majority of my nursing labs passed out cold. :)

Good luck with school, explain your situation to your peers, instructor.

Ciao!

JO

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Specializes in critical care.

I don't mind getting shots at all, I had one last week and all is well; but I HATE getting my finger pricked, it hurts so much more than a needle.

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I am the biggest baby when it comes to recieving needle sticks. I have no problem poking anyone else. When it comes time for my yearly TB or any blood draw i nearly faint.

We didn't get to practice on each other in nursing school (legal reasons HIV and all) I was very thankful for that. We did do finger sticks on each other and that was bad enough.

One night at work i was sweaty and shaky so tried to do my own finger stick. Took me almost twenty minutes to get up the nerve to prick my finger.

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I hate finger pricks too. I hate how they lie about it hurting to little children. my right index finger still hurts!! lol.

Nick

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Specializes in Geriatrics, LTC.

in LPN school we were able to practice injections on eachother...I opted not and that was ok too.

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