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.
Specializes in med-surg, psych, ER, school nurse-CRNP.
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!
Yep, in my left delt. I'm right-handed, so that was the easiest way. I'm pretty limber so it was not that big a stretch. I just couldn't get over everyone making such a to-do over it. Now that I know there's a lot of folks that can't do it, maybe it is something after all.
I know hubby was stunned. Heck, he's so scared of needles, the last life insurance he got, the adjuster had to come HERE (to my house) and I had to draw the blood. That was the only way he'd sit still for it.
I guess it just never has occurred to me to be skittish.
For those of you who are known to be "good shots", LOL. What's your secret/trick/technique? I'm a senior year NS and will be doing a flu clinic next Friday. I'd love to learn how to make it as painless as I can.
Specializes in med-surg, psych, ER, school nurse-CRNP.
Honestly, I could not tell you....It was just something I liked to do, I like venipuncture as well, and I just developed a knack for it.
Couple things, tell 'em to relax their arm, hold the needle like a dart, and go in fast. For skinny minnies, pinch the muscle up, or you're liable to hit bone (THAT'LL sure make 'em holler, let me tell you!).
Funny story, the first shot I ever gave in NS was a flu shot. Poor guy was scared of needles, but I tried a different approach with him. I passed out cold after I gave the shot, and he caught me! It was not intentional, something about seeing the needle sliding back out of his arm just did it for me, and BOOM! Now, you want to talk about EMBARRASSING! I'd like to think I have come a long way since then,lol.
For IM in the Deltoid I get the Pt to put their wrist on their hip as they wont be able to tense the muscle. I then rub vigourously with an alco swab and as Angelfire said, hold it like a dart. If you are quick it tends to hurt less. Getting the Pt to hold the vaccine, (before drawing up) to warm it up also helps.
I taught a friend of mine how to do a sub-cut, we were on deployment and needed our last JEV shot, dodgy as, but I gave him one and he gave me one, should have done it myself.
AngelfireRN, MSN, RN, APRN
2 Articles; 1,291 Posts
Yep, in my left delt. I'm right-handed, so that was the easiest way. I'm pretty limber so it was not that big a stretch. I just couldn't get over everyone making such a to-do over it. Now that I know there's a lot of folks that can't do it, maybe it is something after all.
I know hubby was stunned. Heck, he's so scared of needles, the last life insurance he got, the adjuster had to come HERE (to my house) and I had to draw the blood. That was the only way he'd sit still for it.
I guess it just never has occurred to me to be skittish.