Is this correct?

Ortho_RN · Mar 14, 2004

We didn't have to give ourselves shots.. But we did give each other 1 injection of normal saline, just to check off for technique...

But some schools don't even do that, that just let you practice on a worthless silicone filled bag :)

Its not bad.. I hate shots too, but its over in a second..

And just for a side note, I have never been one to be sick alot, well I got a stomach virus and went to the dr, and the nurse proceeded to give me a shot of Phenergan... Well I heard it bit a lil bit... But GOOD LORD!!!!!!!! That shot made me want to turn around and slap that poor nurse... Plus she gave it too me standing up.. Big no no... So now I totally can sympathize when people get Phenergan...

RNPATL, DNP, RN · Mar 14, 2004

Hi Destany .... congratulations on your desire to want to be a nurse. It is a wonderful field for young women and men. As far as shots are concerned .... some nursing programs have you give each other a shot just so you know how the patient feels and so your teachers can see how good you give a shot before you give real ones on patients. But, if you don't want to do that in school, I am sure they will let you out of it.

If you have any more questions, please ask, there are many nurses on this site that have lots of experience an can answer many of your questions about becoming a nurse. At 14 years old, it isa wonderful that you want to pursue a career as a nurse. If you continue to want to be a nurse as you get older, there will be plenty of opportunities for you to work.

panda_181 · Mar 14, 2004

At our college we were not allowed to practice on each other...liabilty reasons I would assume. Some of us would have liked to practice, just to see how things went, but we used the little saline bag that was thick so simulate going through skin. We were also encouraged to pracitice on oranges for subcutaneous injections.

Amanda :)

phyrenrain · Mar 14, 2004

Why a "big no no??" Just in case the pt passes out??? Just curious?

We didn't have to give ourselves shots.. But we did give each other 1 injection of normal saline, just to check off for technique...
But some schools don't even do that, that just let you practice on a worthless silicone filled bag :)
Its not bad.. I hate shots too, but its over in a second..
And just for a side note, I have never been one to be sick alot, well I got a stomach virus and went to the dr, and the nurse proceeded to give me a shot of Phenergan... Well I heard it bit a lil bit... But GOOD LORD!!!!!!!! That shot made me want to turn around and slap that poor nurse... Plus she gave it too me standing up.. Big no no... So now I totally can sympathize when people get Phenergan...

Agnus · Mar 14, 2004

Absolutely NO. And my guess is you already know how it feels. You have already received shots.

It used to be that some not most schools did have students practice or give thier first shot to another student.

HOWEVER, today there are legal protections in place that says you cannot be required to accept a shot from anyone. If you do not want to receive one you don't have to. Most schools will wisely require any student who agrees to accept shots from another student to sign a statement saying they agree and will not sue if something bad results. They cannot make it a requirement. If they do you can take legal action. MOST SCHOOLS today would not dream of making this a requirement and most do not do it at all.

Ask your parents if they are against you becomming a nurse. It almost sounds like they are trying to scare you away from it. They may not be informed or misinformed about what nursing really is all about.

P. S. nursing is not about shots. That is a VERY small part of our job.

sagelola · Mar 14, 2004

Just as the others said, you will NOT be giving yourself shots. In our program we had to give two to another student (as well as get two), and that would be an IM (intramuscular) injection in the deltoid (at the top of your arm, just below the shoulder), and a ID (intradermal) injection on the forearm to simulate the TB injection.

I don't like injections, either. But, to tell you the truth, that first IM injection was harder for me to GIVE than to RECEIVE! I had previously given one SC/SQ (subcutaneous) injection...but it wasn't nearly as bad as the IM one. Maybe because I was being tested on it, and was trying to remember 1000 things...anyway...it really isn't all that bad, and it is just the one time. Our instructor said that if we didn't want to do it we didn't have to, but she wouldn't let us give one and not receive one...if we didn't receive an injection, we failed that skill.

Good luck to you, and remember to do well in school as your good grades will only help you get where you want to go! :)

Agnus · Mar 15, 2004

Our instructor said that if we didn't want to do it we didn't have to, but she wouldn't let us give one and not receive one...if we didn't receive an injection, we failed that skill.
QUOTE]
That is not an ethical practice to withhold a passing grade because you refused to have another student practice an invasive procedure on you.
Injections are not benign and have risks. You do not have to submit to those risks for a grade.
There is research that supports that practicing this or other invasive skills on students does not improve skill. There is no valid reson for this practice other than this is the "way we have always done it." Having always done something does not make it right.
There can be serious legal repercussions for the school if a savvy student were to challenge this.

BowlerRN · Mar 15, 2004

At the school I attended we didn't have the option of giving each other injections. We just had to show the instructor where it would be given, by pointing it out on each other, we actually practiced giving injections on raw chicken breasts and hot dogs. someone in our class made the suggestion that we should've injected BBQ sauce into them and had a cookout afterwards. It's great that you've decided to go into nursing. I would definitely become a CNA as soon as possible, i'm not sure but i think you usually have to be 15 before you can

Rozhinitsy · Mar 15, 2004

In the UK, you don't have to practice giving yourself injections. When I was a student we had to practice on oranges as they thought that the orange peel was similar to human skin!!!!

Good luck with your studies!!

zenman · Mar 15, 2004

Did anyone tell you about the enema practice?

Nurse Ratched, RN · Mar 15, 2004

Did anyone tell you about the enema practice?

Stop - you're terrible! :chuckle