We wered doing flu shot clinic at work these past 2 days, and I was the shot-giver. Back by popular request, it seemed, apparently my reputation as a painless shot-giver preceded me. I LIKE those kind of talkings-behind-my-back!
So, in the middle of the first day, we're moving right along, and we hit a lull, so I decide to do my shot while I did not have a patient. I have just popped the needle in my arm when in walked 2 men, one a bit nervous-looking, the other apparently fine.
Mr. Nervous took one look at the needle in my arm, turned, looked at his sidekick, and said, "That's it, I'm fine, you can go. If Little Bit there can stand there and do THAT, I can be man enough to take one."
Seems this man had never had a flu shot before and was terrified of needles. He was only coming up because everyone told him I did not hurt and the guy came with him for moral support.
After he saw me give MYSELF a shot, he was fine.
After he left, my manager was laughing, made the above comment that I used for the title, and then said "What are you going to do when the next one walks in here that's afraid of needles?"
He's just going to have to trust me, that's what, LOL!
Question, though, does anyone else give themselves shots, IM shots? Insulin I can see, but my own DOC can not believe that I give my own shots, and all the nurses had to watch me yesterday. I don't think it's such a thing, but now I'm curious.
i am covered in tattoos and have no problem dishes them out to other people, but i wrap myself around the chair and wince for a tb shot. :)
OMG - You sound a lot like me! I do not bat an eye when giving shots to my patients, but even at age 16, the nurses and staff had to one time even come out into the parking lot and pull me out from under my mom's car to get my shots.
After I had been nursing for 10 years or so, I was working in ICU at a large hospital. I got my assignment - my first patient was the nurse from my old pediatrician's office. She was completely with it, and recognized me as soon as I walked in her room. She dropped her jaw and said "Tell me you didn't go to nursing school. "
She stayed in the hospital for a few months, and I learned so much from her in that time, and her husband got admitted to the hospital on the same unit, and she requested that I be his nurse also. He passed away during that hospital stay, but from that couple I learned so much from both of them.
The wife also passed away during that hospital stay, but I am glad that I walked into her room that day!
I went thru infertility treatments, and hubby couldn't stomach giving shots, so I did my own. I thought it was a luxury on the rare occasions that I was at work or with an RN friend who would give me my injection(s). After a while, I realized that I was better at it than my friends were, and stopped asking anyone else to give them to me.
Ditto that; we did infertility treatments for 10 years and my stomach is tough as a rock now. I did have nurse friends give me my HCG shots though, in the butt. My MIL (who is a teacher, not a nurse) even gave me one once. She did a pretty good job too!
Specializes in Acute Care Cardiac, Education, Prof Practice.
During pre-employment blood draws for my first job the tech drawing my blood scoffed at me for looking at the water-color on the wall while she drew my blood.
She stated "I am surprised a nurse is afraid of needles"
I just looked at her with mild shock and stated that the picture was there for a reason, for me to look at while my draws were being done.
Just because I am nurse, doesn't mean I am interested in watching your technique (or lack thereof) for a blood draw!
Kudos for showing that guy that the shot wasn't a big deal. Reminds me of Grey's Anatomy the other week when O'Malley let them put an IV on him to prove to the peds patient it would be ok.
Give myself an IM shot? You are kidding right?! Oh hell no, I couldn't do that, nope not ever.
I am a big old baby when it comes to me getting any kind of shot, or anything to do with needles and MY body!
I was feeling a bit weak, diaphoretic, a tad shaky and a bit of mind fog going on on day during work, I decided to check my blood sugar (I was doing my diabetic pts blood sugars so I had the stuff with me). I tried to psych myself up just to push that itty bitty lancet into my own finger, couldn't do it, became MORE shaky just trying to do it. Had to give my coworker the lancet and look away as she pricked my finger. Of course my residents tried to help out and let me know that they don't even feel it when I do it to them so I should be fine.
Its not so much the pain of an injection or blood draw that freaks me out, its the whole thing of sharp object going into my body.
I am know as the "the quick shot" at work. I can give an injection in record time with little to no pain..according to my residents.
I can give but I surely don't want to get :)
Kudos to you for being able to, I am a far less woman, I can't do it.
Are you referring to giving it in the deltoid??? I don't think I can even reach around well enough to be able to get it in straight even if I wanted to try! More power to ya!
I went thru infertility treatments, and hubby couldn't stomach giving shots, so I did my own. I thought it was a luxury on the rare occasions that I was at work or with an RN friend who would give me my injection(s). After a while, I realized that I was better at it than my friends were, and stopped asking anyone else to give them to me.
I am going through infertility treatments now and my hubby laughed at me that I have to give myself injections. I took a class at the office that the MD made me take. I even had to do a return demo. Not so bad giving myself my own shots. I just couldn't ask my co workers to do that for me.
I also have to give my brother IM injections every month. The med is thick like ativan so I have to use a large guage needle. Sometimes I hurt him and sometimes not.
I got bored at work one day and started a IV in my hand. I got it on the first try.
Never given myself a shot, but while in nursing school I was so nervous about starting IVs I actually started one on myself for practice!
One thing that does scare me is checking my blood sugar. I've done it at work before, out of curiousity what my bg is, and it always scares me for some reason! I hesitate for awhile and get nervous, my hr increases, just for that little prick!
Needles don't scare me though, I like to watch if someone is sticking me.
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sissiesmama, ASN, RN
1,899 Posts
OMG - You sound a lot like me! I do not bat an eye when giving shots to my patients, but even at age 16, the nurses and staff had to one time even come out into the parking lot and pull me out from under my mom's car to get my shots.
After I had been nursing for 10 years or so, I was working in ICU at a large hospital. I got my assignment - my first patient was the nurse from my old pediatrician's office. She was completely with it, and recognized me as soon as I walked in her room. She dropped her jaw and said "Tell me you didn't go to nursing school. "
She stayed in the hospital for a few months, and I learned so much from her in that time, and her husband got admitted to the hospital on the same unit, and she requested that I be his nurse also. He passed away during that hospital stay, but from that couple I learned so much from both of them.
The wife also passed away during that hospital stay, but I am glad that I walked into her room that day!
Anne, RNC