How are you with needles?

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so, I'm just curious, are there any nurses out there who can draw other people's blood or start IVs just fine but freak out when it happens to them? I just went to the doctor's office today and almost fainted from having blood drawn (granted, I had a fever of 101 and hadn't slept last night or eaten for the last day or two, and had just had other rather unpleasant tests done). my mom's whole side of the family seems to have a biological predisposition to being sensitive about these kinds of things...its rather embarrassing.

did IVs make you uncomfortable before they became a part of your daily work?

can you still be a good nurse with problems like this? I think it bothers me way more when its happening to me than other people, but I'm only doing pre-nursing classes right now so I've never gotten the chance to do something like this with someone else, aside from dogs. I used to work at a kennel, plenty of nasty clean up there, and occasional injections, and I managed those fine. I'm really hoping that means I'll be ok with patients, even if I'm not the stoutest patient myself.

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Specializes in Cardiac Telemetry, ED.

I hate needles....in me. I don't mind sticking them in other people.

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Specializes in SICU, EMS, Home Health, School Nursing.

I have no problem starting IVs or giving injections to other people, but if those needles are pointed towards me, I flip out! I almost passed out when I got my ears pierced!

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Specializes in cardiac.

No they don't bother me.

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Specializes in Neuro ICU and Med Surg.

Needles don't bother me anymore. I have been having to give myself shots since last July off and on. I was trying to get prenant and had to do sub-q injections of hormones. Now I am on IM progesterone, but I have to have my husband or a coworker give it to me.

Needles never really bother me before anyway, but now they bother me a lot less.

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Specializes in Med/Surg, Home Health.

nope, I even let people practice IVs and blood draws on me. Its just a needle. A little sting, thats it. But then again, Ive been stuck so many times, Im used to it (multiple surgeries).

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Specializes in Case mgmt., rehab, (CRRN), LTC & psych.

I don't mind sticking people and I don't really mind getting stuck.

The one thing I cannot stand having done to me is a fingerstick with a lancet for blood sugars. I hate having my fingertips lanced. It hurts!

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Specializes in EMS, ER, GI, PCU/Telemetry.
nope, I even let people practice IVs and blood draws on me. Its just a needle. A little sting, thats it. But then again, Ive been stuck so many times, Im used to it (multiple surgeries).

thats how i am too. i don't mind being stuck at all, it really doesn't hurt all that bad unless someone really screws it up. i looked like a heroin addict in paramedic school and in nursing school because i let alot of people get a try at an IV start on me.

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Specializes in Nursing Home ,Dementia Care,Neurology..
I don't mind sticking people and I don't really mind getting stuck.

The one thing I cannot stand having done to me is a fingerstick with a lancet for blood sugars. I hate having my fingertips lanced. It hurts!

Now I don't mind doing my fingersticks but I hate having blood drawn from me!!Always look the other way much to the PN's amusement!

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Specializes in jack of all trades.

I had to recently draw my own yearly labs for my job as it was let the pct do it or do it myself. I work in dialysis and they may be used to a 14g in a huge fistula but leave my veins alone!!! I can handle needles it's vomiting I loose it with. Been hit with mucous plugs and you name it but someone to hurl I'm done lol, Dont feel bad as there are many nurses that have thier own phobias when it comes to thier own bodies when it comes to needles. You should hear some of my staff when they have to get thiers done. Had a few pass out too.

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Specializes in Peds Critical Care, Dialysis, General.

Needles are just fine - as long as I'm the one in control of them. And I just despise fingersticks!!!!!!!

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Everyone hates the lancet finger stick. Too many never endings. Protip: Go for the side. Also, I get my clients to "inhale", and as they are inhaling, I stick. They are not tense during the inhale, I guess they assume you will stick once they are really prepared, and it is always a lesser reaction. I learned this observing dentists. They always ask you to inhale as they go under your gum line with a local. "Take a breath in through your nose..." *jab*

I used to have a mild problem with needles. Didn't much enjoy getting them, could never imagine giving them. It ran in my family too. Got into nursing, faced it head on. I worked a couple of weeks during a vaccination drive at a clinic. Did hundreds of jabs. Also, I am now quite a good site spotter on any baby. Those tears are better than a debilitating childhood illness.

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