I'm interested, but have a phobia

It's hard the fistrt time, hun, but like anything else it really does become old hat after a while. I, for one, can get blood from a rock but don't ever come to me to start and IV....lol. Too many years in ICU with central lines I guess.

IV's and blood draws are some of the basic skills that you will be taught in nursing school...I wouldn't sweat it right now. You will come up with other "phobias" after you become a nurse. All nurses have that one "thing" that bothers them for me it's nasty trache sputum, but I know another nurse that just can't deal with colostomies (something about in nursing school having one empty out on her scrubs...eww).

Hey, don't worry they teach you what you need to do. The skills of inserting IV and drawing blood are simple. The first couple of times you might miss but after time and practice you can insert them with your eyes closed. (Not so much the sick and dehydrated pt. though) Thats why you have lab and clinicals to practice.

If nurses gave into their fears, no one would be practicing!

You will do well, you instructors will show you how to safely

do all these tasks. Our instructors had us practice on

an orange with small needle/syringe in the first lab.

Of course, we all laughed-but working up in baby steps

gave us confidence. Your first time interacting with a patient

can be stressful, but with time and practice you will be confident.

Enjoy your summer, don't worry in advance. You'll do fine!

I had been a phlebotomist before becoming a nurse (who am I to talk...LOL...I just became a nurse a few days ago), but I was afraid at first to draw the blood, but later (and not THAT long, later), it was just fine. There are so many things in nursing that will be new to you. I have worked as a Patient Care Associate and Nursing Assistant many years before now, and at this point, I am a bit anxious (I start orientation in July), but I will just take my time and I will let whomever know that I am new, nervous, but want to learn so that I can be a positive member of the team.

I understand how you feel. You will be fine if you accept the challenges and face them.

I really love helping people and am really pursuing a career in Nursing. After watching my father in the hands of Nurses, I knew that's what I wanted to do. Before the new school year starts for the RN Program, I just have a few questions...

I'm not afraid of needles, but when I watch the nurses do their thing, it seems/looks hard. Is it really that hard to give someone an IV or take blood? Or is it just me?

Also, what are some pros and cons of Nursing in your own words?

Thank you everyone!

I became a phlebotomist last year and before starting it I was terrified. It wasn't the needles that bothered me, it was the thought that I was going to hurt people. I finally had to give myself a little affirmation that "I'm not hurting them - I'm doing this to help them!" Afterall, what's a little needle prick in the big scheme of getting well or finding out what's wrong with you?

Now I'm in nursing school, and my fears are all over the chart - currently it's catheters, but I've addressed that in another thread and feel much better!

You'll be fine! When you get ready to practice phlebotomy/IVs in class find a guy who has they veins that just naturally pop out. Once you get your first successful stick you feel much better and doing one that's not quite so obvious won't seem so hard.

If nurses gave into their fears, no one would be practicing!

You will do well, you instructors will show you how to safely

do all these tasks. Our instructors had us practice on

an orange with small needle/syringe in the first lab.

Of course, we all laughed-but working up in baby steps

gave us confidence. Your first time interacting with a patient

can be stressful, but with time and practice you will be confident.

Enjoy your summer, don't worry in advance. You'll do fine!

:yeahthat:

Dont sweat it, remeber that everything will be taught to you. Pay attention and you will be okay!

I work in LTC and have recently moved to first shift, and drawing blood is one of the things nurses have to do on that shift. I also have a problem with drawing blood, I've tried several times and haven't had much luck. I'm gonna hang in there because I love my job and love working first shift, you actually get to go home the same day you went to work...I keep telling myself, just do it, and feel like the first time I get it right, that I'll feel much better. BTW, one of the things I dreaded and hated the most when I started nursing, (only been a nurse 1 1/2 yrs), was the thought of suctioning someone. Now I just get down to business if that's what's needed done. Also, another skill I hated and dreaded was giving those little old folks IM injections, but a nurse that worked the hall next to mine one night told me, "just go do it, it's the only way you will ever learn to get comfortable with it", and she was right. Guess you could say I conquered a fear that night. So just hang in there, it's not suppose to all be easy in the beginning. Probably won't all be easy 10 years from now either, but look at all you will have accomplished on the way. :Melody: :monkeydance: