Giving versus taking...lol

Nurses Rock Toon

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Okay, we all know how easy it is start an IV, give an injection or perform some other type of procedure on a patient. However, what happens when WE are the patient? Are we the brave patient who grins and bears it. Or are we the pt that screams when you even discuss what is about to take place? What do you do?

Specializes in Surgical/MS/Oncology/Telemetry/OBGYN.

LOL! !!!

I have horrible veins so anytime I need stuck I warn whoever walks in the room, tell them I am closing my eyes and squeeze my husbands hand or the bed rail. I make a joke out of things as we are doing it and all is well. The only time that I became truly frightened was in July when I had to have an awake intubation for a colostomy revision. I was ok with the lidocaine lollipop and even the explanation of the procedure. They told me that I would not remember anything, since the dosed me with the Versed. Hah! I clearly remember every step and vivid detail. Fortunately, I told the Anesthesia team of my fears before we went to the OR and they were very kind in keeping me calm and even put on some great music to soothe me. Doesn't help the flashbacks and if I need major surgery again I will be in a panic, but I won't put up too much of a fuss.

Specializes in Med nurse in med-surg., float, HH, and PDN.

I had a colonoscopy under Versed, in-office, and the gastroenterologist said it was HORRIBLE and he would never put me through that again! Apparently I required 5 times the 'normal' dose of Versed to complete the procedure. I wasn't acting up, he said, but that for some reason I could feel every little advance. And there are supposed to be no pain receptors in the intestinal tissues? He said it was an hour from hell; I told him I only remembered about ten minutes of it. The next colonoscopy was outpatient at the hosp. with an anesthesiologist. Don't remember a thing! :) Except I really wished they had let me continue to sleep instead of waking me up to pass the gas out!

Specializes in Intellectual & Developmental Disabilities.

You couldn't pay me to have ABG's drawn on myself.

Specializes in Gerontology RN-BC and FNP MSN student.

I couldn't imagine being a diabetic and having to do finger sticks 4 times a day like some of my patients do.

I had to get a drop of blood from my finger tip to type my blood in A&P class.....my finger was SORE for 2 days!

Ok I have a pathetic story or two. I can stick someone else all day long but if you come near me with even the smallest of needles I have panic attacks. I once asked for EMLA cream before an IV......honestly. I also had to give a pint of my own blood before surgery. I went to the Red Cross to donate into what the phlebotomist called "a baby bag" because it was so small. Now I will preface this by saying I am a fairly small person and I cannot donate blood due to my weight.....although now I probably could.....at any rate, I was donating this small amount of blood while lying down, became overwhelmingly nauseated, turned white and felt myself passing out LYING DOWN. They had to cover me in ice packs and give me multiple cups of juice. I was so embarrassed

I have a strict mantra when it comes to needles...'tis better to give than receive!

That's mine too. I used to watch when I had to have blood drawn of IVs started, but since becoming a nurse I run from people. I've told more than one nurse to drop the 20g and pick up that 24g butterfly and nobody gets hurt.

It hurt my ego to be so BAD at it! I used to envy folks like you! You could probably still get any vein first time, even now!

When I was in nursing school, I was sure I was going to be the IV queen. I have disappointed myself greatly!!!!!!

However, I too can get a foley in anybody. Just ask the guy with a prostate the size of a basketball. He may have crawled up the wall backward while I was placing it, but he was so glad when I got it in. :)

I had many people tell me not to be 'scared' and volunteering to teach me, because it was 'easy'. After about the sixth time of going through that in the same number of years, I finally got exasperated and said, "I'm NOT 'scared" of doing sticks, what I am is REALLY BAD at it.!" :yes: Ya gotta know your limits!

But, P.S., I've been told time and again that I do give a painless injection. I've had to give myself shots under certain circumstances, and I must say, I'm not too shabby. It's all in the wrist action!:)

I am scared of hurting someone AND I am really bad at it. Actually had one pt that told my co-worker "I think she needs glasses".

That being said, I volunteer to start IVs whenever possible (especially on patients that are less than nice).

Specializes in Med/Surg, LTACH, LTC, Home Health.

Me (nurse) to patient: Grow a set, will ya! This will hurt less than your reason for being here".:no:

Nurse to patient (me): ​BACK!!! GET BACK, I SAY!!!:madface: You nurses ain't laying one finger on me!!!:cautious:

Specializes in Med nurse in med-surg., float, HH, and PDN.

I took care of a big, burly FBI agent once who was deathly afraid of needles. He was passing kidney stones and was in a great deal of pain, but was scared of getting a pain shot; he cried in anticipation of the shot more than he did from the other pain. I rolled him over and got a piece of that hip action; he didn't even realize he'd had the shot until I said, "OK, you can roll back over now."

When I was a kid and we had to line up at the nurse's office at school to get our shots, the needle broke off inside my arm. I was mad because they made me turn my head and I couldn't watch them get it out of my arm. Then they had to give me another shot in the other arm because the vaccine of the first shot had splurted out on to my arm. I didn't care because getting a shot wasn't half as bad as having to watch the other kids cry and pee their pants and faint. I wasn't particularly brave, but I did subscribe to the "get it over with fast" theory, just so I didn't have to think about it anymore!

Specializes in retired LTC.

I am usually VERY VERY good with injections for pts. And I have no qualms about receiving them myself. (I do make squinty boo-boo faces just because I think I should just for principle.) But then I smile and make light of the injection.

I'm a tough IV/phlebotomy stick. It's not the tech's fault so I try to be helpful. As long as their technique is OK, so am I. Multiple sticks are OK because I know I need the IV/bloodwork. So just poke away as best you can do!

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