I was an IV drug user from 2008-2010, but since then I have gotten clean and do not use drugs anymore. I'm apprehensive about the prospect of learning about IVs and blood draws while in school.
I've had my blood drawn a couple of times since I have gotten clean and have fared okay, but it was very difficult for me, since my main connection to a needle being inserted into my arm is with drug use.
My mine concern is about the experience I will have with fellow students practicing on me and practicing on fellow students. I feel like an inexperienced person trying to practice on me will bring back terrible memories and I'd like any experiences or tips from people who have been through this. I know I can overcome it, but I'm not sure exactly how.
In my RN program, we gave each other sub q injections. No IM injections, and definitely nothing into the vein. But, a needle was inserted, by a student. I would think, and this is just my opinion, that if you have a legitimate concern, you could ask to be excluded from something like that in your program, if they even do it.
I am with the majority of posters. I am in my 3rd (of 5) semesters in a BSN program. The only thing we did on each other was test blood glucose levels. Other than that, we did not practice on each other. We started off practicing on manikins and from there went on to actual patients in our clinicals. It actually would have been nice to practice on each other first, but for the most part, I think practicing on one another has been phased out of most nursing schools. My first SQ & IM injections & first IV (into a "real" person, not a manikin) were all on actual hospital patients during clinical. At this point, I have yet to do a blood draw on anyone.
Congratulations on your sobriety! Nursing school can be very stressful at times, so make sure you have a support system and ways in which to manage your anxiety/stress.
rubato, ASN, RN
1,111 Posts
In my RN program, we gave each other sub q injections. No IM injections, and definitely nothing into the vein. But, a needle was inserted, by a student. I would think, and this is just my opinion, that if you have a legitimate concern, you could ask to be excluded from something like that in your program, if they even do it.