Left-handed nurses

sarita279 · Jan 30, 2004

i think this is a great question! i have yet to start nursing school, but in the experience if had with handling needles and syringes, i had such a time figuring out the best maneuvers for me. being left handed, you tend to be more ambidextrous and then even more confused, or is that just me?

i'd really like to know what experienced leftys have to say

Jay-Jay, RN · Jan 30, 2004

No problems here! I mastered the use of right handed scissors back in grade school, and that's about the only piece of nursing equipment I use that is designed specifically for right handers.

I find I've become very ambidextrous when doing a difficult dressing change or packing.

Another thing I've noticed is that I may have to set my equipment up differently from a right-hander when doing the dressing. This is usually not a problem. Most patients are quite willing to let me re-arrange things so that I'm comfortable.

It would probably make the most difference in a surgical unit. My southpaw cousin was a veterinarian, and she had problems with some of the surgical implements which were not ambidextrous.

nursesrthebest · Jan 30, 2004

I am left handed, and I do not have any problems with any equipment. When doing procedures, for ex., putting in a foley cath... instead standing on the rt side of the patients bed, you stand on the lt side of the bed, etc.

Nurse Ratched, RN · Jan 30, 2004

I didn't notice I had anymore trouble than I did with any other mechanical task (which isn't saying much, my mechanical intelligence leaves something to be desired lol.) I am definitely one of those people that has to "hands on" something to learn it - no amount of lecturing or watching it will show me how to do it.

EvilJen · Jan 30, 2004

Im left handed too but I never worried about this before I started uni. So far it hasnt been a problum,Ive just done things naturally with my left hand/

Dave ARNP · Jan 30, 2004

My best friend and I are both leftys and both NP's.

We've made it! So can you!

Dave

Chaya, ASN, RN · Jan 30, 2004

I've found that which hand I use has more to do with which side of the bed can get to most easily than "handedness". BTW- did you know the lefty brain is just naturally "hard-wired" to multi-task?

Nurse1202 · Jan 30, 2004

I'm a southpaw also!!

This is bad, but I have more problems with the layout of my car's interior than medical equipment, although my DH chalks it up to bad driver syndrome:D

I 've found that i have adapted to equipment and procedures, as I do everything else in this right-handed world. I am actually more comfortable inserting a foley on either side of the bed, using my left hand for insertion!!!

As for using the right-handed scissors, I've tried using left-handed scissors in the past, but they're not as sharp. What is the industrial world trying to say? (just kidding):)

yellow rose · Jan 30, 2004

I'm a lefty also...but not remotely ambidextrous

The only problems I've had was in school. When I was first learning procedures, all my instructors were right-handed and I had difficulty copying their actions in reverse, so they'd try to show me using their left hands...which was rarely successful :) It wasn't a huge deal and I learned how to do procedures as well as anyone else.

barefootlady, ADN, RN · Jan 30, 2004

Am a natural lefty. Had to learn to do some things with right hand but never had much problem doing procedures . Can give an IM injection with either hand. LOL.

Long Term Care Columnist / Guide · Jan 30, 2004

Southpaw here, too. All I've ever had to do was adapt my position to the task, e.g. inserting Foleys from the left side of the bed. I've never had a problem with starting IVs or doing dressing changes.........of course, it's good that I'm not completely helpless with my right hand, as many tasks require some dexterity with both hands, but I've never had any problems being a left-handed nurse.:)