Is anyone squeemish?

Published

I'd really like to be a nurse, but I do have a bit of a needle problem...I don't like to get shots or watch it be done. Is this something that can easily be overcome after learning the technique or with practice?

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in Critical Care; Cardiac; Professional Development.

I would venture to say yes. As you go through school, you just start to view these things through more clinical eyes, or at least I have. I don't see it as a needle, an arm, a stick, pain, blood etc. I am thinking about my technique. What comes next. Why I am doing it. How to be safe.

I just don't use the "squeamish" pathways in my brain anymore.

Up Vote Up Vote ×

RN2BDFW - Thank you for you're opinion. I was hoping it would be something I would work past, and instead focus on the job at hand, you know? The most invasive thing I've ever done was insert a NG tube in my son (he was a micropreemie) a few times. I did it fine, even though it felt a bit creepy at first.

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in Critical Care; Cardiac; Professional Development.

If you can learn to do that on your own child, you can definitely learn to do things on/for your patients. You will be thinking about the benefit of the treatment or test, not about the momentary discomfort. I am betting you will do fine.

Up Vote Up Vote ×

Thank you for the encouragement! You definitely made me feel more confident in myself :)

Up Vote Up Vote ×

You will soon learn that it doesn't hurt you one bit when you give someone else a shot ;)

I saw that on Trauma Life in the ER when someone was being asked if they are nervous to give shots.

Up Vote Up Vote ×

StangGang - :) I've never seen Trauma Life in the ER, I'll have to watch it sometime.

Up Vote Up Vote ×
StangGang - :) I've never seen Trauma Life in the ER, I'll have to watch it sometime.

It's on Discovery Health channel, they have lots of good shows on there

Up Vote Up Vote ×

I watch a few shows on the Discovery Health channel, just haven't seen that show yet. I'll keep an eye out, thanks!

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in Emergency Department.

I have been covered in amniotic fluid, had to stick my arm up to the elbow into a lady parts and uterus fishing for a retained placenta, thrown up on, hemorrhaged on... but what makes me gag? Emptying a bed pan or bedside commode with a well-formed BM in it that stinks or suction thick mucous from someone's throat after they've coughed up a good chunk. I'm doing everything I can not to gag, choke, or let on that I am about to toss my cookies.

Up Vote Up Vote ×

Apgar10 - You've painted a lovely picture...:barf01:

So, have you ever obviously gagged during one of those lovely encounters, or actually thrown up? Or fainted while inserting an IV?

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in Emergency Department.

I try to distract myself from what I'm seeing/smelling and take a minute to compose myself in the bathroom where I'm dumping it out, wash my hands, wipe my eyes if they tear up. Luckily so far the worst ones have been with patients who wouldn't really notice due to their level of consciousness! Otherwise, I don't mind anything else. Love giving injections, drawing blood, and inserting IVs ;) Never felt faint even when standing in the OR observing surgeries (including two in a row brain tumor extractions with bone saws and screwdrivers!!).

Up Vote Up Vote ×
+ Join the Discussion