IV anxiety

[Midnight1]

HELLP!! Did anyone have issues with starting IVs in the beginning? I drew blood just fine and thought everything was okay. However, just the other day when my instructor was demonstrating IVs, I felt like I was going to pass out!! Please don't tell me I've chosen the wrong profession! Everything had been going fine until this point, and I'm confused about my reaction!

I'm only in the second month of LPN classes and never had an IV or saw one started before. Could this be the problem?

[ldybug7]

Everyone that I have known has had IV anxiety. The most important thing you can do is take your time with them and the more you do the better you will be. You know how to find veins from blood drawing. Now all you need is finding your technique for starting an IV and that will come with practice. Good Luck!

[Midnight1]

Everyone that I have known has had IV anxiety. The most important thing you can do is take your time with them and the more you do the better you will be. You know how to find veins from blood drawing. Now all you need is finding your technique for starting an IV and that will come with practice. Good Luck!

You're a person I needed to hear from. Just knowing I'm not the only one feeling anxiety over this is a huge part of what I needed to hear!! I have gotten somewhat better, and now that I'm looking for a job as of December as a new LPN grad on her way to RN school, I hope to get a little more experience.

Thanks again for taking the time to write.

[RedhairedNurse, BSN, RN]

I use to feel so nervous to start an IV. Now I can't wait to get the opportunity for another. I get better and better each time. I use to be so nervous and my hands would literally shake. I've been a nurse for 6 months now and IVs are easy. Well, sometimes there are instances I can get it, but that happens with the most experienced of nurses.

[mcknis]

IV anxiety...i think we'd all be lying if we said that we didn't have it when we first started out. it truly does help having experience with them before school iv starts. i had had several iv's before going through school so i knew how comfortable they should be and how uncomfortable they usually are. after doing myrotation through school, i felt much more comfortable and now actually enjoy doing them (but never tell a pt that!). I feel comfortable in the fact that if I can't get an IV in, then ya better call the infusion nurses or ICU nurses to start one. confident, not cocky, but i do realize that others can do the skill expertly as well.