I am HORRIFIED!!

Ginger's Mom, MSN, RN · Feb 4, 2009

Nurses usually don't do blood sticks. But nursing students have had a fear of needles and most overcome this fear and move on.

86toronado, BSN, RN · Feb 4, 2009

It's pretty scary the first time, and then you do it a few more, and it becomes routine... just think of it as a wet noodle (under someone's skin)!

I watched a PICC line being inserted yesterday. Now that's scary!

Oh, and nurses may not do too many blood draws, but you do put in IV's, so phlebotomy is a great skill to have!

malaski · Feb 4, 2009

One of my preceptors Hates doing IV's. She tries to avoid them at at all costs. We have an IV team, and they usually handle it, after two tries I think. It is scary at first, but you just get used to it. Blood and pain is part of the job! :coollook:

miss_pitty_pat · Feb 5, 2009

Oh my goodness! I know exactly how you feel! I had to take Phlebotomy in a Medical Assisting program (I am now in an ASN program) and it was soooo scary. I remember shaking so bad. The key is to get a partner with really good veins and who is VERY understanding. At least at first. I was terrified of needles, but after my phlebotomy class I loved it and actually became certified! It's something that becomes fun and it's a challenge because you don't know what kind of veins the person will have! I had a hard time at first and the instructor actually had me stick her! I didn't breathe the entire time lol but I got it! And after that, it was smooth sailing! Once you get the first one, you are fine because it builds confidence. You will do wonderful!

tfleuter, BSN, RN · Feb 5, 2009

I can relate fairly well, but I learned to blood draws on cats and dogs. In my experience, it really was all about having confidence in myself and my abilities. I was so excited when I had my first successful draw, and then equally frustrated when I couldn't do it the next time. It was nerve wracking to have the vets or other techs watching you, second guessing yourself and all that. Eventually, the more I did it, the less anxious I became until it just became second nature. I know the real turn around point for me was when I was able to place an IV on a dehydrated, 3lb parvo puppy on the first try. After that, all the other dogs and cats seemed easy-peasy

athena55, BSN, RN · Feb 5, 2009

Hello All

Yeah, doing your first....ANYTHING certainly can seem intimidating, scary and lots of other adjectives.

I remember my "first" IM injection. I was so scared I shut my eyes at the last minute and missed my poor patients gluteus maximus and hit the mattress, instead! Needless to say I had to start all over (this was waaaay back in the day when we used glass syringes and non-disposable needles which we had to sharpen and count after every shift!)

Just keep reminding yourself: "And this too shall pass".

And just an aside: I'm not sure where y'all practice, but there are many, MANY hospitals, medical centers out there where the RN's, LPN's do their own blood draws (stat labs, early am labs, pre-op/post-op labs) and where we do our own IV insertions. Yeah, lots of hospitals have IV teams, but what about on weekends, holidays, evenings or nights?

When we have 68WM5's going through the ICU I and other nurses let them practice on us! I have shad so many IV's placed and blood drawn that it is a wonder that I don't leak from both arms when I take a sip of water (joke...)

And yes, practice does help. When I had to start an IV on a patient that was AWAKE AND TALKING I would sweat so much the patient would ask if I was alright! Gulp. I said a little prayer of guidance and went for it. After a while I got so that I could start an IV on the most teeny-tiny vein, and I can get blood from a rock!

Remember, and this too shall pass!

athena

sbyramRN · Feb 5, 2009

I did quite a few blood draws as a nursing student. I think I did more of those than IV starts. All the hospitals I did clinicals had, the RN's did the blood draws. The lab was called up if it was a hard stick.

windyweather1 · Feb 5, 2009

the clinical placement where I had to first do blood draws was a neurology - post stroke ward... everyone had massive peripheral edema.. or so it seemed so I was stabbing blind.. I couldnt feel a vein anywhere!! it was nuts. I really sucked and hurt a lot of people but eventually got over my fear of having to wiggle a bit to get a vein and made it! I am sure you will get better at it as you practice! Good luck!

yai J, RN · Feb 5, 2009

If you could do it on the manikin, you will find it WAY easier with a real person! Honest.

missingunc · Feb 5, 2009

Thank you to everyone who responded to this post. I appreciate your support and advice ! :)