Problems with IV starts/blood draws

[ClaraRedheart]

I've only been on the job as a med-surg nurse for about a year this week. However, I STILL hate and get shaky at having to draw blood or start an IV.

Call it a personal phobia... but I DON'T like invasive lines. Period. I wanted to be a nurse at 19. Took some pre-nursing classes. In psychology 101 they showed a video of a guy sticking a needle through his arm. I HATE needles. I withdrew from all of my prenursing classes. Married a sailor and was a family photographer for a couple of years. Ten years later, I went back to it with some encouragement from my mother, who is a nurse.

My mom told me "if you like people, you'll like being a nurse". I do. And I LOVE my job. I love EVERYTHING about nursing except for inserting lines. I can handle MOST needles now. I still hate needles... don't get me wrong, but I barely even cringe now at lovenox or insulin injections. IM injections: I still feel weak in the knees, but I feel that I'm getting used to them to. IV starts... It takes concentration and skill. If I've got the time, I don't mind one try at it, and honestly, concentration of mastering the skill takes my mind off of my weak mind for blood. But I feel that me trying on one person more than once or twice is just torture since I'm not entirely confident in my own IV skills. I have NO problem giving blood btw, or priming it, or looking at it. Just taking it causes severe anxiety for some reason with me.

One of the last few days that I worked, our lab techs called out because of the snow/ice. I had a patient who had an order to draw cultures if his temp was over 101. At 0400 vitals, I felt the need to retake his temp because it was at 100.00. It was 101. An order to draw blood cultures 15 min. apart at >101 and above was in place. I almost regret my decision to reassess. I had to draw blood cultures AND labs, which means at least 2 DIFFERENT sticks. I could have gotten the labs fine, but switching between the blood culture and lab tubes, I blew the veins. I saw the hematoma collect under the skin with BOTH blood draws. I feel that I hurt him and have a HARD time with that. I know... a hematoma is a SMALL thing on the grand scale of things. But, with the bubbling under the skin, It bothered me and I had a HARD time keeping it together for morning report. I'm here to HELP people, not cause hematomas and stick them multiple times. To make matters worse, I collected one of the lab draws that was expected, but for the second, the blown vein couldn't give out any more blood on the second blood culture draw. I asked another nurse to help, and she VERY kindly did. However, she drew the wrong color of tube and the lab called at shift change to ask me to draw blood from him again. I lost it. No screaming, no outward crying, but I had to spend 10 minutes in the bathroom fanning myself with one of the posters from the board to keep from crying/hyperventilating, melting down.

I can give blood to patients, so... that doesn't bother me. Taking blood does. How do I get over this?! I'm considering asking my MD for Xanax for situations such as this. If I could surgically have my tear ducts removed, I would. I think that would be the easiest solution. I'm a relatively new nurse. Does this get easier with time?

[TammyG]

Nobody was talking about Xanax. Propanalol. Look it up.

OP - it only lasts about 4 hours max.

If you do look it up, it is spelled propanolol.

[psu_213, BSN, RN]

Nobody was talking about Xanax. Propanalol. Look it up.

OP - it only lasts about 4 hours max.

Actually, the OP did mention Xanax, and I would agree with the poster who suggested that this is not a very good solution to the problem IMHO. I do like the beta blocker idea…under physician supervision of course.

To the OP--take a deep breath. True, IV starts/sticks for blood may not be comfortable for the patient, but they are necessary. I may sound cliche, but you are doing it to help the patient, even if the patient does not appreciate it at the time. A blown vein happens. Not that you should brush it off as "no problem," but it is not getting worth getting worked up over it. I know that may be easy for someone who is not in your situation to say. So, if you are still having trouble with it, I agree with the poster above who advised you to speak with EAP (or some other form of professional help) so that you can sort out your feelings on this.

[ClaraRedheart, BSN, RN]

Just thought I'd update. I've since gone to day shift. With a regular sleep schedule, the shaky anxiety has been a non-issue... and I haven't cried at work for a long time, even though it's been a LOT busier during days.

I've also volunteered to learn our new sono vein-finder machine so I can teach others. Not gonna lie... I LOVE using it. I still hate needles and blood, but with the concentration that it requires it kind of knocks the ooginess out of the picture.

I STILL need practice and have problems starting IV's, but... Just posting this to say I've decided to tackle this head on, and... even though I think I still kind of stink at getting the dang catheter in the vein without blowing it. However, I'm enjoying learning as much as I can. Sometimes facing your fears is the best option.

[ama3t]

We have 20 cc syringes we can use to draw cultures if we also need other labs. (Or if you only need one other tube you can even use 10cc because the culture bottles can take as little as 3ccs.) I find that using a syringe rather than a causing gives me more control. I'm positive if I had to be switching tubes if be blowing veins too. It's hard for me to keep the needle stay even without switching tubes lol.