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Wait until you're working in a hospital and they come around offering flu shots to the nurses. You'll see nurses doing everything but jumping out of the window to get away from the needles. Sub-qs don't bother me, but last time I needed an IM (flu shot) I was gritting my teeth and squinching my eyes shut. I guess I scared the nurse from employee health, who kept going, "Breathe, Nerd, don't fall out on me."
I do pay more attention when I need a blood draw, I've seen infected sticks and don't want to be on the receiving end...
In nursing school I was pretty afraid of needles. My heart would start beating faster and my hands would shake a little if I were holding one (wouldn't you have loved to be one of my clinical patients? :)). Now as an ER nurse of 1 year, I can draw blood and start IV's with no problems.
I still can't look when people draw blood from me though. I have to turn away. So I really don't blame patients who can't look or freak out a little when I have to poke them. Just don't jerk your arm away because that will guarantee another poke
This is a funny thread. On the giving end: I don't mind using needles at all. I try to never get so casual that I let myself set down a used needle. I always try to make myself go to the sharps ASAP as good practice. And I'm convinced that the first day I wear sneakers like everyone else, a bobbled syringe will result in the needle going straight through the mesh into my foot. This is why I still wear my unattractive thick leather nursing shoes.
On the receiving end.... I like to watch IV starts (they're kinda gnarly), blood draws, the intradermal "skin bleb," and I've never had a sub-Q but would probably watch. But the idea of getting an IM makes me sweat. I think it's the idea of that much fluid being pushed between my muscle fibers, it kinda freaks me out.
Anyway, to answer your original question, I don't think my attitude has changed at all since becoming a nurse. I'll always be fascinated/scared of the same stuff, tho hopefully getting IMs will become easier as the years go by!
I've never been afraid of needles, whether it's getting an injection or having blood drawn. I'm not so sure that that's a good thing since I have to make an effort to remember sometimes that many of my patients are terrified of being stuck. My sister used to faint dead away at the sight of blood and in childhood had teeth pulled without Novocaine because she was more afraid of the needle than of any pain the dentist could inflict. My family couldn't believe it when she went to nursing school and became an ED nurse.
is5512
82 Posts
One of the pre-reqs I'm plodding through is Psych101, and my mind got to wandering as we dealt with Learning & Conditioning today.
Prior to deciding on this change of life-path, I Hated needles. Gritted my teeth and refused to look when blood was drawn. But now that I know it's going to be part of the job, I've started watching. It Is So Cool!
My question is: Has your attitude to being stuck and/or having blood drawn from you changed from the time to before you entered Nursing to today? Or do you still despise it when it's being done to you? Or did it never bother you in the first place?
Enquiring students want to know. And since I'm a freshman, I can also be lied to by any poser that comes along
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