I gave my first injection today - actually 50++ of them!!!

Today instead of our usual clinicals, we did flu shots with the health department - Wow what a way to get started. We had 2,200 injections available, and only about 500 remaining when I left. There were people everywhere!!! This was my very first injection! It really worked great because I quickly got over my anxiety, and became comfortable with the procedure, including drawing up the meds. My 2nd pt chewed me out because I uncapped the needle with one hand (he was retired physicin of 40 years - or so he said) :uhoh21: No one ever told me one way or the other, so I didn't know. I just told him thank you???? What else was I to say?? He was really mean about it and said some unnecessary things, but I had to just block him out of my mind and go forward, or I would have lost all my confidence. I used both hands the rest of the day.

Anyway, It was alot of fun and a wonderful way to get broken in! One thing that made me a little uncomfortable is that we did not wear gloves. Most people didn't bleed, and I was very careful, but I still felt funny about it. They said CDC did not require us to wear them for IM injections.

Paula

[checkers]

wow, that really sounds like a great way to get over the injection anxiety. I wish I could do that!!! I still haven't given one yet.

[Truly_Blessed]

Uncap w/both hands? Was he meaning to hold the syringe in one hand and uncap w/the other? Only thing I could think of....anyways....we will be doing the same thing next week. We start clinicals at a nursing home, and we get to give all of the residents flu shots. I am really looking forward to it. I think it's an awesome way to start giving IMs...lots of 'em, one right after the other:)

[klone, MSN, RN]

Cool! We're doing a flu clinic on Saturday.

At clinical last week, the floor got about 8 doses of the flu shot and they were going to give them to the nurses, and the nurses made us students give them to them. That was my very first shot EVER. The nurse I gave it to is actually the mother of my instructor. I did HORRIBLY, but she was so sweet about it and said I did great. :)

[RedSox33RN]

Good job!! You're like an "old pro" at it now. :)

Funny about your second pt. I'm diabetic, and gave myself a million injections before going on the pump 2 years ago, and always uncapped with one hand. He was probably "old school" and was taught a way a gazillion years ago and thought that was how still things were done. I'm glad you were able to put him out of your mind and keep on flu-shotting people! :chuckle

[ItsyBitsySpider, BSN, RN]

Regardless of what the CDC says about wearing gloves...there's no way I would give one, much less 500 injections without gloves on. Especially IM which tends to bleed a little more. Next time forget what everyone else is doing and protect yourself.

[maire, ASN, RN]

Lucky you! Great that you got the practice!

I was scheduled for a flu shot clinic but because of the shortage we got nada.

[NewEnglandRN, RN]

Our flu shot clinics were cancelled too I was really looking forward to getting over my anxiety!

[helpinghands, BSN, RN]

I've been working at flu clinics for the last month and we wear gloves everytime. Once in awhile you'll get a person on heparin or coumadin and you'll really wish you had gloves on. If the facility didn't provide gloves I would purchase my own!

[RainDreamer, BSN, RN]

That's great!! Last year, during my first semester, we did a health fair with the health department and we gave a ton of flu shots ..... was definitely a great way to learn! I remember being SO nervous about it prior to it, I was so worried I was going to just do terribly bad, but after the first shot...... I was like *yeah! this is fun!!* lol. So relieved now that it's over huh? And you did great :)

Yep, I would definitely wear gloves too, that's odd that they didn't provide 'em, they were really adamant about us wearing gloves.

[RN2Bn2006]

Uncap w/both hands? Was he meaning to hold the syringe in one hand and uncap w/the other? Only thing I could think of....anyways....we will be doing the same thing next week. We start clinicals at a nursing home, and we get to give all of the residents flu shots. I am really looking forward to it. I think it's an awesome way to start giving IMs...lots of 'em, one right after the other:)

Yeah, like hold the syringe with one hand, and remove the cap with the other. He said since I did it with one hand, I could have touched the needle (which I didn't) and anything (disease) that I have he will get. He said what I was doing was horrible, and I can't remember all the other things he said. It was upsetting to me at first, but I'm trying to learn not to let one bad apple ruin my day, because I know I am going to run into alot of bad apples. lol! Plus I figured he was going to gripe someone out no matter what - he just seemed that type. I just happened to be the lucky one. :chuckle

Good luck on your flu shots. I promise after the first one, it becomes soo much easier. I had high anxiety when I arrived, and when I left, I felt like "HEY, I know what I'm doing!" I did still get a little nervous when a very small little lady without alot of muscle came up. I was just careful not to stick the needle in the whole way.

Oh, I actually had two seperate incidents where the needle practically "bounced" off the patient. I freaked! I just changed needles, and the new one went in without any problem. Only thing I could think of is they dulled the needle while drawing up the med?? :imbar

Paula

[RainDreamer, BSN, RN]

OMGosh I know what you mean about those little old ladies! During that flu shot clinic last year, I had only given a few shots and then this little, tiny, skinny lady comes up to get her shot. When I was giving her the shot, I hit the bone! Freaked me out kinda, but then when I was putting the bandaid on her, she goes "Is that it?! Are you done?! I didn't feel a thing, you did so good!" lol. That boosted my confidence though, but after that I was really careful on those lil old ladies!