Off The Wall: Nurses & Sticks

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One of the pre-reqs I'm plodding through is Psych101, and my mind got to wandering as we dealt with Learning & Conditioning today.

Prior to deciding on this change of life-path, I Hated needles. Gritted my teeth and refused to look when blood was drawn. But now that I know it's going to be part of the job, I've started watching. It Is So Cool!

My question is: Has your attitude to being stuck and/or having blood drawn from you changed from the time to before you entered Nursing to today? Or do you still despise it when it's being done to you? Or did it never bother you in the first place?

Enquiring students want to know. And since I'm a freshman, I can also be lied to by any poser that comes along :D.

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Specializes in NICU.

No, I don't like having lab draws, IV's, and I never did. I would rather give than receive! One thing I really detest is NG's, and I can totally sympathize with the baby on the receiving end (I work NICU).

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Specializes in ER.

I have never been bother by needles. I work in the ER and i let the new techs practice on my veins. It is a good learning experience for them, that is how i learned. I dont mind one bit.

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Specializes in psych, addictions, hospice, education.

it doesn't bother me to have injections or blood draws done to me, but I don't like doing it to other people. The dislike doesn't stop me, but I still don't like it.

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I've never minded needles. However, I did learn a very important lesson regarding needles and modesty when I was around 10 years old. When someone tells you to have a poison ivy shot in the bee-hind rather than in the arm.....you should listen. My arm felt crippled for days.

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Specializes in ICU, Telemetry.

Wait until you're working in a hospital and they come around offering flu shots to the nurses. You'll see nurses doing everything but jumping out of the window to get away from the needles. Sub-qs don't bother me, but last time I needed an IM (flu shot) I was gritting my teeth and squinching my eyes shut. I guess I scared the nurse from employee health, who kept going, "Breathe, Nerd, don't fall out on me."

I do pay more attention when I need a blood draw, I've seen infected sticks and don't want to be on the receiving end...

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Specializes in Psychiatric.

I never minded any of it...shots, labs, IVs...it's all so fascinating!! Now if someone had to drop an NG tube in me, I think I'd die right there on the spot...I HATE putting them in and I hate watching them go down! lol

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Specializes in Emergency.

In nursing school I was pretty afraid of needles. My heart would start beating faster and my hands would shake a little if I were holding one (wouldn't you have loved to be one of my clinical patients? :)). Now as an ER nurse of 1 year, I can draw blood and start IV's with no problems.

I still can't look when people draw blood from me though. I have to turn away. So I really don't blame patients who can't look or freak out a little when I have to poke them. Just don't jerk your arm away because that will guarantee another poke ;)

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Specializes in ICU.

This is a funny thread. On the giving end: I don't mind using needles at all. I try to never get so casual that I let myself set down a used needle. I always try to make myself go to the sharps ASAP as good practice. And I'm convinced that the first day I wear sneakers like everyone else, a bobbled syringe will result in the needle going straight through the mesh into my foot. This is why I still wear my unattractive thick leather nursing shoes.

On the receiving end.... I like to watch IV starts (they're kinda gnarly), blood draws, the intradermal "skin bleb," and I've never had a sub-Q but would probably watch. But the idea of getting an IM makes me sweat. I think it's the idea of that much fluid being pushed between my muscle fibers, it kinda freaks me out.

Anyway, to answer your original question, I don't think my attitude has changed at all since becoming a nurse. I'll always be fascinated/scared of the same stuff, tho hopefully getting IMs will become easier as the years go by!

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Specializes in school nursing, ortho, trauma.

it doesn't bother me, but i don't watch either when it's being done to me.

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Specializes in ER; HBOT- lots others.

i do not do needles of any sort. i am very good, go to person for IV's, but dont you dare come my way. but i really believe because i hate them so much is part of a reason why i am good at doing them.

-H-RN

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Specializes in ICU/CCU.

I've never been afraid of needles, whether it's getting an injection or having blood drawn. I'm not so sure that that's a good thing since I have to make an effort to remember sometimes that many of my patients are terrified of being stuck. My sister used to faint dead away at the sight of blood and in childhood had teeth pulled without Novocaine because she was more afraid of the needle than of any pain the dentist could inflict. My family couldn't believe it when she went to nursing school and became an ED nurse.

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