Hand Tremors

[Anna-s]

Hello All,

I am a 23 years old, second year nursing student. I have noticed that I have MAJOR hand tremors(+ I can feel my heart beating and my hands cold and sweaty) when I am being watched by someone (clinical teachers, Primary nurse, or patient). I know my stuff, I have been doing well so far but having hand tremors just makes my life HARD. I now hate(ish) going to clinical because I am scared that my new clinical teacher might notice. This semester we are doing IV's and that's stressing me even more, I feel it's going to be hard for me to insert it with my shaky hands !

I don't know what to do !

When I practice alone, I am fine but when someone is there I get very anxious.

Should I ask my GP for beta-blockers? I have tried deep breathing and other stress-relief methods but it didn't work + I don't have much time to try things out now as I already started my clinical. any suggestions?

[♑ Capricorn ♑]

@ anna-s

when doing ivs, i would steady your hand by resting the dominant hand on the patient or bed while inserting the iv. as long as you're not hurting the patient in the process and keeping your dominant hand steady upon insertion, it should be ok. you can always ask your doctor for advice or even say to your clinical instructor that you have an issue with shaking, and they may be able to help you. as a phlebotomist, i have had some experience in the past with the insertion of needles. yes, it can be scary but with more confidence and practice in doing them it does get easier. the more you do them the better you will feel and your confidence in doing them will get better. i can definitely relate to how you are feeling. :)

[nurseprnRN, BSN, RN]

you can ask your pcp about beta blockers. but your adrenals won't be pumping out those beta-stimulating endogenous catecholamines in such great amounts in response to fear when you have more experience and confidence and your fear is well under control, or gone. so perhaps the best beta-blocker-equivalent would be a few visits to the counseling department, to learn some breathing and centering techniques to help you do that.:heartbeat

you will find the experience useful when you are a nurse and have a patient who is scared; you won't say, "this is what happened to me," and launch into it, because at that moment it's not going to be about you. you will say, "look at me. take a deep slow breath. good. again. now i want you to imagine..." and do what your counselor did c you.

take a deep breath. good. again. now...

[shamrokks, ADN, ASN, RN]

I too have hand tremors. I have mine at times when I am not nervous or anxious though. I have learned to steady my hand on my patient or on myself. It's hard and most people who happen to be watching think it is because of my nerves but it isn't. I think part of mine is hereditary. My dad had really bad tremors. I don't want to take anything for them but I do notice that caffeine makes them worse and if I haven't eaten and my blood sugar starts dropping the tremors get really bad. Good luck.