Needle phobia

BrandyBSN · Aug 31, 2001

Krista! Its ok!

It is a lot different poking someone else, than having to get poked yourself. Honestly, I go donate blood as often as i can, but I get sick if I look at it when they are putting the needle in, and I dont want to see my blood in the bag after. I think that is natural. You are not alone!

BrandyBSN

janleb · Aug 31, 2001

I can give injections with no problem. But I get woosey when getting my blood drawn,(serious) I have to have candy available because I get that yucky I am going to pass out feeling. I don't know why I am like that, maybe I was scarred as a young child:P

realnursealso/LPN, LPN · Sep 1, 2001

Just wanted to let you know that anyone else can bleed all over, but:o if I bleed at all and look I pass out. You are not alone and I have been a nurse for 22 yrs. Good luck to you on your new career. And just don't look at your own blood.

KristaB · Sep 1, 2001

Thanks, everyone! :)

I'm really glad to know I'm not alone! I have a history of fainting at the sight of my own blood and also when I get shots (and I tried to give blood once -- they did a hematocrit on me first and I passed out, bumped my head on the lady's desk and got myself a nice concussion!).

Anyway, thanks for the votes of confidence! :) I hope you're all right that it won't affect me while working on anyone else. The woman that did my TB test yesterday told me to wait a few months, and I'd know why they say it's much better to give than to receive.

Krista

zannie · Sep 1, 2001

needles and having blood drawn don't bother me..... the only needle I am scared of is tetorifice (sp?). I'm due for one too! GRRR.

BUT, what does scare me is my lab partner tearing my arm up trying to find my vein. ;-) hehehe. S'ok..... They'll probably be just as scared of me doing the same to them. :)

--zan :)

TeresaRN2b · Sep 3, 2001

It's okay if your phobic of needles poking YOU. It would be a bigger problem if you were afraid of poking others. I worked as a phlebotomist and was very good at drawing blood, but that doesn't mean I don't get a little nervous when someone else is sticking me. Think of it like this you being afraid of being poked helps you to have empathy for your patients. I have passed out more than one time from having my blood drawn and I think it helped me to be a better at drawing blood because I had more compassion for my patients and I was sincere when I said I understand. Don't worry about it just practice your technique and be good at it. You may never get better at yourself being stuck. It only matters if you can stick other people.

Teresa

kennedyj · Sep 4, 2001

Typhoid is the worst for me. Worst than tetnus. IF military deploy you get an IGG shot. It is the one that turns babies into men!!!! Its like a 5cc shot of cold honey in the cheek. the cold shot rips the muscle and it burns too. Supposed to be 2.5cc in each cheek but who has time when you have over 1000 to do.

shyviolet78, LPN, LVN · Sep 4, 2001

I don't mind getting shots, but if I look while my blood is being drawn or when an IV is being inserted, I get that sick feeling. Probably because a few years ago, I was in the ER and a student nurse inserted an IV in my hand and "exploded" (not sure if that is the right term) the vein. My hand swelled up and turned black and blue, after it finally stopped bleeding. It was 2 days before my wedding too, so in all of my wedding pictures, that hand is behind my back because it was so hideous looking! Other people's blood don't bother me a bit though.

**canoehead, BSN, RN** · Sep 4, 2001

Excuse me if I find the idea of a nurse afraid of needles funny!

I hope you are feeling better. (heehee)

Of course if you are receiving an injection from a nurse to lazy to do it correctly, I can understand the fear. One more reason not to go into the military I guess. :confused:

kennedyj · Sep 4, 2001

Actually I enjoy giving shots and IV starts. Escecially the hard ones where others have failed. Although I am no superhero.

some tricks Ive learned:

Many people after they draw blood they put the gauze over the site, press down, and then pull the needle out this only bruises and damages the vein.

- if you cover the site don't push down on the gauze until the needle is out. Don't worry if a drop of blood comes out.

If giving am IM shot (this works well for kids or those who don't like shots)

wipe the site and say Im going to tap 3 times. tap 3 times about 2 inches lateral to the sciatic nerve. It runs the reflex arc between the gluteus and the CNS and back. The body says its only a tap. after the 3rd tap the needle goes in.

It will feel just like a tap. Try it!

JennieBSN · Sep 4, 2001

Originally posted by canoehead
Excuse me if I find the idea of a nurse afraid of needles funny!
I hope you are feeling better. (heehee)

AAAAAAAAAAAYYYYY!!!! I'm a big chicken, too ya know...

Krista, honey, don't you feel bad at all. I used to get laughed at regularly during clinical labs because of my nausea, near-fainting, and green skin after being stuck by a needle of ANY size...tb syringe, fingerstick...didn't matter. I have been asked politely by the red cross to NOT donate again, as I've passed out every time I've donated. My MOMMY had to drive me to and from my immunization appointment prior to starting college, because I KNEW I would be woozy and unable to drive after all that poking. Whenever a needle comes near me, it's 'stretcher, siderails up, please...okay, NOW you can stab away.' I have begged my way out of an IV on more than one occasion. I just got my yearly TB test, and man, did that nasty little bubble make me NAUSEOUS.

I can stab anyone else like I'm playing darts. I'll fight you to start an IV. But come near MY bod w/that crap, and it's kiss my butt goodbye...you'll be picking me up off the floor.

You'll probably be able to stick other folks just fine. Don't worry about your own phobias. You just make sure that you repeat after me: 'stretcher, siderails up, please...'