Immunizations

Jolie, BSN · Apr 6, 2006

It is never easy to give injections to unwilling, older children. Have someone help you hold the child, if necessary. Be honest with the kids, tell them it WILL hurt, but not for long. Be sure there is some kind of reward when it's all done! And be prepared to discuss comfort measures and s/s of reactions with the parents.

Good luck! It will be harder on you than them!

prmenrs, RN · Apr 6, 2006

You can tell them it's ok to cry, just don't move!

jillyk*rn · Apr 6, 2006

good luck!!

be honest with them. tell them it will hurt for a little bit. tell them not to move, because you don't want to do it again. get help holding them if necessary (having them sit in a parents lap). a treat afterwards (stickers, candy). letting them pick out a cool bandaid before is always a bonus!

moonchild20002000 · Apr 7, 2006

The majority of the immunizations are done by about 15 months. I think it is easier to work with babies.

My advice for older children is to have help holding them and just do the injection as quickly as possible.I will lay the child on the exam table,have the parent hold the upper body and lean over the child to hold the legs.

The more injections you do the easier it will get,I have been doing this for 33 years and injections on the 2-5 years old age group are the worst. Good luck,you will do better than you think!

jmdulock · Apr 8, 2006

I just wanted to thank everyone for your great advice. Everything went really well today. My instructor was really great and she did the first one and when it was my turn, I just used some of her technique. I only had one child that was fighting us. Thanks again!

PedsNursetobe · May 20, 2006

I do injections the same way as moonchild! It works very well. Not every child will need to be held down--if there is any doubt, though, get help to hold them. Becareful of trusting a parent to help you holding them. Believe it or not, the shots are harder on the parent than the child. They could let go of them at any time.

Always talk about s/sx of a reaction, normal occurances and give any instructions BEFORE you start. No use trying to do that over a screaming child plus it makes for a quick escape. The parent then can right away comfort the child. Have your bandaids opened and ready.Some times you can actually place them half way on after you have prepped the site. NEVER let the parent nurse or give the child a bottle or candy to try and pacify them during the shots. It may sound silly--but some parents will ask. Shots are hard for everyone involved. The biggest favor you can do for yourself and the patient/parent is to have everything you need ready and get out quick! lol

I'm posting late in the game--how did it go?

missy in michigan

VIRGO NURSE · Jun 3, 2006

I try the sitting up and giving mom a hug, cuz she needs one routine. Have the child sitting, legs dangling, with mom giving them a hug. I have them rest their head on mom's shoulder. Ask about school, the up coming birthday, a toy they brought with them and just do what you need to. 4-5 year olds are the worse, especially with polio, dtap and mmr.

If I get no where that way we do the laying down thing. Some parents are very stupid, if I say this will b-u-r-n-s on the sly to a parent so they can be prepared, I had a few say " oh watch out this one, it is gonna be a doozy" Just amazing to me the stupidity.I tell kids this will hurt for three seconds, let's count. They usually focous on the counting and it is over.

I've had some kids I had to have major help for, parent and two other nurses pinning a kid down. You hate to have to give vaccines that why, but how else?