LPN with limited skills

[Tomboytammy]

I have been an LPN since 2007... stayed at the facility that I worked at prior to becoming an LPN . Our facility uses LPN's in a very limited capacity so I never really got to do a lot of skills. I then took a position that schedules outside consults for my clients along with managing our phlebotomist, administering staff flu shots, and central supply. Every year when we start our annual staff flu shots I get super stressed... I worry about all the things that can go wrong... hitting bone.. nerve damage. I can give 50 great shots and then I give one that the staff says hurts. Our DON mentioned that once an MA gave her flu shot in the joint and I think about that all flu season.

I know it is crazy because IM injections are basic. I don't want to feel like a student nurse my entire life. Does the nervousness go away? The nurses I work with seem super confident... like they can do anything.

I applied to a different job about a year ago but it involved skills I am not confident with... cough assist,. nasal suctioning, straight cath., and it was home care so I talked myself out of the position.. even though it was one of the best interviews I have ever had. Help?

[anewsns]

I do find that it does get better over time. Its like you just need to see over and over again that there were no complications and then you feel more confident. Some things require some muscle memory too. I remember being freaked out about IM shots. Now for some reason I love giving them. I do well with extra knowledge too. If the profs never explained something to my satisfaction then I'll have a second look at anatomy and techniques on my own. I ask a lot of questions of other nurses too.

[CrunchRN, ADN, RN]

I chose to learn phlebotomy after being a nurse for 16 years and not doing it. You just have to grit your teeth and do it. Learn all you can about it so you know you are doing best practice. Then do it as much as possible. Repetition will eventually build confidence and decrease the anxiety. It also helps if you can rope coworkers into letting you practice on them a time or two first.