Left-handed nurses

Tweety, BSN, RN · Jan 30, 2004

Leftie here! Hopelessly so, can't do anything ambidexterous. Whenever I'm with someone either teaching or having them help put in ng tubes, catheters, or suctioning they automatically situate themselves on one side of the bed. I always have to ask them to move to the other side since I'm lef-handed.

If you've made it this far in life left-handed, life will continue to be good for you. :)

SickleMoon · Jan 30, 2004

Originally posted by sarita279
...being left handed, you tend to be more ambidextrous and then even more confused, or is that just me? :roll :roll I thought I was the only one!

nekhismom · Jan 31, 2004

I'm a lefty too! I can use right handed scissors, but other than that, I don't do too well. I had problems learning tasks initially, then my best friend, who happens to have over 10 years of medical experience and can be ambidextrous, taught me some tips. I don't think it's been much of a problem, really.

Besides, we had to adapt all through school, right? I mean, remember those right handed desks that supported a right arm while writing? Our arms always hung off and got cramps while everyone else was comfy! ANd the papers never fit on the desk correctly either! LOL!

sarita279 · Jan 31, 2004

That is true about all of school, I remember learning cursive and the teacher said "oh you're left handed, i dont know what to tell you" and just left me to figure it out myself!

I 'll just have to be resourceful as ever with my left AND right hands

ScarlettRN · Jan 31, 2004

I can't start IVs with my right hand, but otherwise it is no problem functioning with both hands. Can put in foleys and ng tubes regardless of which side of the bed I am on.

Dave ARNP · Jan 31, 2004

I can lead sutures with my right hand, but dayum if I can't start an IV or attempt ANY injection with it.

If you can learn to feed yourself with your right hand then you've got it made. Afterall, every good nurse needs to know how to eat with one hand and chart with the other

Dave

NICU_RNwantsFL · Jan 31, 2004

Howdy fellow Leftie!

I am RN in NICU (as my screenname indicates, duh) and have had no more problems in hospital setting than in "real" life -

For invasive procedures like IV sticks and urinary caths, I use my left hand.

Remember, too, there are varying degrees of "handed-ness" - some genetic, some depending on how your right-handed parents and teachers taught you how to do things growing up -

Aside from invasive procedure, my dilemma is more like what one of the other respondents mentioned - determining which side of the bed I need to stand on.

I read somewhere that the left-handed population statistically has more social outcasts, criminals, mental deviates, etc. - Could this be because our "righty" counterparts have driven us to this? HAHAHA just teasing:roll

Don't worry, you will be fine!

Medic946RN · Feb 1, 2004

'Nother Lefty here, no problem with equipment, or anything else. I've adapted very well to the Right Hand world.

salwalwol · Feb 1, 2004

Being a nurse for 30yrs, 15 in ICU. Other than wearing my watch on the "wrong wrist". I can say being a lefty has never been a problem. Even the "righty" nurses I work with have a preferred side to work on. I'm the one the ward nurses call when they need an IV restarted. Practice is the key..

Wuiteroz · Feb 2, 2004

Okay, thanks for your answers :)

I guess I'll adapt