How important is it as a Nurse to get out of your comfort zone?

[Convoy2022_TrumpSupporter]

I work on the floor at a retirement home, but now my manager is telling me that sooner or later I may be pulled to do screening at the door, and most of all swabbing residents/staff as we now enter rapid testing.

Me I am scared cause I am more of that person who treats patients and gives their medications assessing and monitoring. Now that I am swabbing, I'm worried that staff may not like me and report me that I am not a good swabber. I just don't want my license taken away

[speedynurse, ADN, BSN, RN, EMT-P]

I don’t see how a license could ever be on the line for swabbing. It is more at risk with bedside nursing - giving meds, changes in patients’ condition and failing to recognize those changes, etc. 

[JKL33]

Wow. I gotta say I would not expect this question from someone who likes to tell people exactly how it is and doesn't sugarcoat anything. I would be more apprehensive about the wisdom in having cake party discussions with management than I would be about being assigned to collect nasal swab samples. ?

You are not going to lose your license because someone didn't like having a nasal swab unless you maybe punched them in the face first or something.

This is pretty simple: Make sure you are inserviced on basic procedure if you don't already know it, make sure people know what to expect from the swab before you put anything in their nose, collect the sample properly, and be kind and pleasant while you are doing it. These basic things should take care of any concern you might have.

Good luck! ??

[Davey Do]

13 hours ago, DK123 said:

 I'm worried that staff may not like me and report me that I am not a good swabber. I just don't want my license taken away

DK, everyone will like you for being a good swabber and you'll be able to keep your license as long as you don't stick the swab in too far and perform a frontal lobotomy.

[Jedrnurse, BSN, RN]

This will be SO much easier than working the floor you won't believe that you were this stressed about it...

[Davey Do]

20 minutes ago, Jedrnurse said:

This will be SO much easier than working the floor you won't believe that you were this stressed about it...

[Jedrnurse, BSN, RN]

30 minutes ago, Davey Do said:

I love me some Snarkometer (TM) but I was actually being serious about this...

A day greeting and swabbing would be like a (somewhat boring) vacation.

[JBMmom, MSN, NP]

That's a very small comfort zone if swabbing is outside of it. I'm quite sure that you have handled many more challenging aspects of nursing to this point. You will be fine. 

[SilverBells, BSN]

When I first started doing COVID swabs, it took a couple of swabs to get used to, but then I quickly caught on.  It's a pretty easy skill, actually.  As far as people not liking your "swabbing skills," some people are more sensitive than others.  I've done many swabs, and I still have some people pull away even when the swab has barely been inserted into their nostril.  Reality is, many people simply do not like having a swab up their nose as it can be a little uncomfortable.   It's such a fast procedure, though, that most people move on pretty quick.  I can relate to the concern of losing one's nursing license, but in this case, the risk is nearly, if not completely, nonexistent.  The BON has bigger issues to worry about than someone experiencing discomfort during a nasal swab. 

[2BS Nurse, BSN]

"A day greeting and swabbing would be like a (somewhat boring) vacation"

My thoughts exactly! Greeting and swabbing is like getting a nice break!

[CharleeFoxtrot, BSN, RN]

On 3/25/2021 at 3:21 PM, JBMmom said:

That's a very small comfort zone if swabbing is outside of it. I'm quite sure that you have handled many more challenging aspects of nursing to this point. You will be fine. 

^^this.  I do suggest the OP try reframing this as a "growth experience" which sounds a lot more positive. Every  step out of our comfort zones adds a little more experience.

[love2banurse89, BSN, RN]

I have swabbed well over 1000 noses (that’s 2000 nostrils!) since we began testing—twice a week til 2 weeks ago—all employees at the long-term facility I work at. I agree with the above. It’s an easy procedure & very quick. The company you get the tests from should have online training. Watch that & watch a few other people do the procedure.  The best hint I got—hold the swab so your fingers almost touch the person’s nose when you put it in. You have better control over it & it’s not “flopping around” as much in the person’s nose, making it tickle less. 
 

Make people feel comfortable when they come in for their test. Be confident, professional,  & friendly. Make small talk if they seem nervous. Explain how the test works if they’re interested.  Tell them what to expect & offer a tissue when you’re done. Tell them when they’ll receive results. 
 

Some people are very sensitive & others will not like it no matter how professional you are. It IS harder to make people you work with, uncomfortable when doing the test...harder than making a patient or resident uncomfortable. In our facility we rotate who does the tests and there are some people who will wait to get tested if a certain nurse is doing the testing. Don’t worry about it! It’s a good skill to learn!