First injection

Published

Hello fellow student nurses! I've just given my first two shots (sub-q and IM) today, and was pretty nervous doing it. Luckily, my partner was very cool, so it all went relatively good. I'm generally not a nervous type, so I'm curious: when did you start feeling comfortable giving injections? Did you get enough practice in clinicals?

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in ED.

Each of our clinical groups went out into the community to give flu shots last fall. I'm pretty sure I gave about 10 injections in one day. After the first one, I was fine.

Are y'all practicing on each other? I would HATE that!

meredith

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Each of our clinical groups went out into the community to give flu shots last fall. I'm pretty sure I gave about 10 injections in one day. After the first one, I was fine.

Are y'all practicing on each other? I would HATE that!

meredith

Flu shot clinic immunization seems like a pretty good way to get some experience. We did practice on each other, which made me more nervous. We will also practice on each other intravenous shots and I guess, maybe even starting IV lines. Not until next semester, though, so I hope to be a bit less nervous in the meantime.

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in ED.

There is no way in H E double hockey sticks that I would let another student practice starting IVs on me. We have practi-arms that are connected to tubing that holds fluid that looks like blood that we practice on. I've started a few IVs now and it is similar but the veins on the practice arm don't roll and you don't blow those veins. It is a good way to at least get the feel of the catheter and the actual process though.

m

Up Vote Up Vote ×
H E double hockey sticks

I haven't starting my program yet (start in August), but I've been giving injections since I was about 12. My dad is a type I diabetic and my mom is a nurse, so she taught me how to give him insulin injections. So, I'm not nervous about giving subQ injections...I am nervous about giving IM injections and drawing blood/starting an IV...

A flu shot clinic is a great idea. Not only do you get experience with giving shots, but also good experience with the general public.

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in ED.

A flu shot clinic is a great idea. Not only do you get experience with giving shots, but also good experience with the general public.

It sure was! I learned a lot from that little experience. The first, and probably most important, thing I learned was that the old saying, "the bigger they are the harder they fall," is SO very true. I had a big ol boy that I literally almost couldn't reach to give him a shot in the deltoid. I'm a little vertically challenged but this guy was at least 6'6" or so and all muscle. I made a comment about needing a stool to stand on and was kind of joking with him and said, "You aren't gonna cry on me now are ya?" He kinda leaned over to me and said, "I really don't like needles," and I saw a little panic and fear in his baby blues.

I made him sit on the little stool we had and he went white as a sheet and had a little sweat on his face as soon as I stuck him. I was SO glad I sat him down. Could you imagine if that guy toppled over!? :uhoh3:

Poor fella.

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in Home Care.

I got over my anxiety of giving shots during the H1N1 vaccination campaign. I gave hundreds of them to adults and kids.

When I first started my job I was anxious about giving insulin; that soon passed.

Up Vote Up Vote ×

The first time I gave a shot was for the pnuemococcal vaccine for an elderly gentleman. I was so nervous my face was bright red. I could feel the redness in my cheeks. I was holding it a few inches from his arm and was hesitating so my instructor grabbed my hand (nicely) and poked him for me! It was so funny! Now I still get nervous because I know how uncomfy it is to get a shot and I feel bad for the patients!

Up Vote Up Vote ×

im going to be a second year nursing student in the fall (will graduate in may) and i've only given a few injections. ALL of them were subq though so i still dont feel comfortable with IM and i've never done ID, but those are few and far between. i do feel pretty comfortable with subq though and i felt that way even doing my first one. the injection itself isnt as scary to me, as the preparation beforehand, like making sure its the right med, and all that. thats mostly because the instructors i've had hover over me SO closely it makes me nervous lol

Up Vote Up Vote ×

When I was told to give the first Sub Q and IM injection I was super nervous. When I actually did it, suprisingly I wasn't nervous at all. My problem is remembering to keep the bevel up.

Up Vote Up Vote ×

i got this big problem...

every time i am going to give injections or anything which requires the use of syringe... i feel anxious and nervous... my hands shakes when giving shots....its never been like this before...One Day, it just started. what should i do??? :crying2:

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Hello fellow student nurses! I've just given my first two shots (sub-q and IM) today, and was pretty nervous doing it. Luckily, my partner was very cool, so it all went relatively good. I'm generally not a nervous type, so I'm curious: when did you start feeling comfortable giving injections? Did you get enough practice in clinicals?

Congratulations! I never told anyone, but giving shots was one of the areas of school I was really nervous about.

Even more when I learned my first ever Sub-Q shot would be delivered....on myself. Me and myself had a fairly long conversation as I sat there with my instuctor staring down at me while I stared at the needle in my hand poised above my abdomen.

But then I did it...and I didn't even feel it! The next shot was a intradermal on a lab partner.

After a few insulin and heparin shots in clinical I was A-OK. It was almost like performing ADLs on patients, without any fanfare it was suddenly a task I felt confident doing.

You will too.

Up Vote Up Vote ×
+ Join the Discussion