Giving Injections/Shots

joanna73, BSN, RN · Feb 27, 2012

It's natural to be nervous for your first few injections. Read up on the procedure and know the correct landmarks for subcutaneous and IM injections. The best piece of advice I could offer is this....just commit to giving the injection and follow through in a smooth motion. Your patients will appreciate it.

flyingchange · Feb 27, 2012

We all got an opportunity to practice one Sc and one IM injection on a buddy (optional of course) before doing our first ones in clinical.That first time, I heard ringing in my ears and the walls closed in a little bit. I was fine after that. Glad I got to try it on a willing friend :)

heather13 · Feb 27, 2012

Read over your procedures so you are confident. Know where to inject, know if you need to pinch up or aspirate, and be sure you have the right gauge needle. (If you're not sure, ask your primary RN or your instructor.) Right before you go into the room, take a deep breath to steady yourself. When you are ready to stick, don't hesitate. I agree with Joanna73. Just commit. Say to your patient, "okay you'll feel a little pinch". As soon as you say pinch, give the injection. That way you wont have time to second guess yourself. Also remember once your done, go straight to the sharps bin! It's natural to be nervous but soon you'll be injecting like a pro. Good luck!

Mike Kong · Feb 27, 2012

I was afraid of needles my whole life (I'm probably older than you) and was also pretty hesitant. First, the number of vaccinations I had to get to start school helped with that. Next step was giving the first injection to a live patient. This is only one of a number of skills that you'll be hesitant about. Fortunately, this one is easy. Make sure you know what you're doing. Then go do it. My first was insulin in LTC so it was old hat for the patient - he didn't care.

Here's a story about how it all became easy when I did my second injection. We were learning do to chemstrips and our instructor made it very clear that we were to prick the side of the finger and only the side of the finger, not the tip, not the pad. I went to do my first stick and the guy told me that I wouldn't get any blood from the side and that I'd have to stick the pad of his finger. I told him that I'd been directed not to do that. So I stuck the side of his finger twice and got nothing. I stuck my head into the hall and told my instructor. She said, "Do what you gotta do." So I stuck the pad and read his glucose on the sliding scale. Now the instructor is watching me draw up insulin. The dose was two units and when I realized what a paltry amount this was, I was ready to throw my hands up over the whole thing. Why don't I just take the vial in there and wave it under his nose? Subq's were easy after that. The first IM I gave was in the ER and there wasn't time to worry about it.

Know what you're doing and do it correctly and confidently.

mpihl · Feb 27, 2012

I'm still nervous about injections every time I have to give one (but I've only given the real easy ones so far). Just make sure you ask whatever questions you think should be asked to make yourself feel more comfortable. The question I always end up asking is where do I inject it OR so I am going to inject it here right. Knowing this before I get to the clients room always just makes me feel a lot more comfortable that I at least know where I am going.

cndn_grl08 · Feb 27, 2012

Sub-Q injections are really easy once you do a few, I too was very nervous to give them the first few times, but after being on surgery units where pretty much everyone has insulin or enox. or both, it comes really easily now. I'm a 3rd year student and I've been confident with them for quite a while now, so it doesn't take that long at all. IM's I have never actually done on a person because they're so few and far between nowadays unless you work on psych, but I imagine they are a little bit harder to get used to than Sub-Q's. My advice is to try to relax as much as possible, know your stuff cuz that'll help to decrease nerves. The most common Sub-Q med is insulin and diabetics are used to getting it, so it won't hurt them and they will be really good about it for the most part. When you're ready, just go in and do it! Like I said, after the few first times you'll laugh at how nervous you got over nothing. Good luck!

tsm007 · Feb 28, 2012

You know injections have been easy for me because I have two diabetic children. In the hospital when my oldest was diagnosed (it was a military hospital) they made us as parents inject ourselves. It was one of the best experiences for me because once I gave myself the injection I knew I could do it on anyone else and I realized it barely hurt at all which made things easier. The biggest thing I can say is go in and fake confidence when you are in front of the patient. Don't tell them this is your first injection. Act like you know what you are doing even if you don't feel like you do. Come back tomorrow and let us know how you do. Good luck!

KingsMommy · Mar 1, 2012

I am going to say this and try not to sound terrible-when I give injections I remind myself of something a nurse once told me... The shot isnt going to hurt you at all. I know at first its like rude but I remember it each time because my fear came from the pain - obviously it wont hurt me because I am not the one getting a shot. This allowed me to get over the fear of needles and focus on making this as pain-free and safe for my patient as possible. Be confident ahead of time in the technique and sites, etc so when the time comes, you are just focused on that patient. Remember to find the balance between the science and the real life right in front of you

Good luck!