How was your first time poke?

dscrn · Oct 3, 2009

my first IM as a student nurse. Pt was a very good sport, I think she was having GI trouble...all of her meds were changed to IM I think 4 of us students had a go at her that day. I was so rattled, I signed my maiden name in the narc log-luckily, my married name is short, so I could squeeze it in.

When I was on orientation for work, half of our IV sticks were down in OR pre op-I about died when the mentor wanted me to insert 16g-2 of them-in someone who was going for major thoracic surgery-

roser13, ASN, RN · Oct 3, 2009

I have to confess that everytime I come across this thread, I snicker just a little. The first time I saw the title, referencing "Your first poke" I took it in a very immature way......

mustlovepoodles, RN · Oct 3, 2009

I'm scared of needles, always have been... I'm sure I can bite the bullet and get it over with since I want to be in the medical field. CNA courses start and finish quick, then on to LPN classes- this is my goal. I was wondering how it felt to finally stick someone after your training, is it scary? Or fairly easy? I guess it depends on how well you see the viens in the arms of a patient? Dark skin is hard as well as the elderly? I have tan skin, I can see my veins easily I always get a compliment by nurses, they're like- oh how nice, this will be easy...
So Can I hear some first time pokes please?

Oh, man, does this take me back...My first IM injection was awful. I was only 18 and scared to death. I was excruciatingly shy. It was hard enough for me to look at nekkid people, but to have to actually touch their butts! I was so embarrassed! :imbar

So I had to give an injection to a woman who had had abdominal surgery. She was understandably miserable. I rolled her over to give the shot, but when I tried to enter the skin the needle bounced off. She started screaming about how incompetent I was and demanded that I leave the room and never touch her again.:eek:OMG! I thought I would die on the spot!

I cried and cried, but I had a wonderful instructor (who, BTW, stood up for me with that patient) and he promised it would go better next time. He found me a patient who was semi-comatose. The man must have weighed 100-lbs, all skeleton. My instructor showed me how to "throw it like a dart". I rolled the man over and let 'er rip--and promptly fainted. :sleep: I woke up a few seconds later in the OTHER BED with my instructor shaking my shoulder, "Cathy, come on, wake up!" When I came to my senses my instructor praised my technique and promised me I would never have that reaction again. And you know? He was right! In fact, I went on to give very good shots. Patients told me they could hardly notice them.

It's all in the wrist. :clown:

fmoore723 · Oct 3, 2009

....you MUST demonstrate confidence in front of your patients. If they think (know) that you're a rookie, they will flinch easier, watch you like a hawk and worse, they will tense up.

My first poke, period, was an IM injection to a postpartum mom in our OB rotation. I know it was a pain med--dont remember which one though. Wasnt too bad, I was scared out of my mind, I too was preggo at the time---but had to show that "confidence"

First blood draw---here's where the confidence really came into play. I was working in LTC facility and the other nurse on our floor was busy with a ton of blood draws that AM. I, of course, didnt have any scheduled so I was so happy. She then comes to the nurses station and asks me to TRY getting Mrs. So-and-so. I said sure...I was up for anything. I go in there, set up, stick her---she told me I had to go for her hand or I wouldnt get anything---so I listened. Successfully drew her labs, and she says "Wow, I didnt even feel that. No one EVER gets my blood. Whats your secret?". My response---"You really want to know? It was my first try!" I loved that lady, was always very truthful with her. She requested me a few more times after that too. Made me feel great!

First IV--havent had to the opportunity yet...some day...

Felicia

lina.561 · Oct 3, 2009

LMAO Roser13- Keep that "poke" to your self!! :no: lol

Dalzac, LPN, LVN, RN · Oct 3, 2009

the first IV I ever started was on an old diabetic blackman ,coding, in the back of an ambulance doing mach 9 down a dark street at 3am in the morning and I got it on the first stick, so really God started the IV. It was all down hill from there LOL