Shaky hands and IV starts?!

[wbrogers]

Hey all! I'm a first year nursing student (4 year BSN) who is somewhat concerned about IV starts. My hands shake a little more than I would like. It's not even close to a tremor or anything incredibly serious, but I don't think they are "steady." When I hold my hands out straight, they shake a small amount. My question is this: will this interfere in my ability to do IV starts? I am mainly set on being a psych nurse (adult ideally, not geripsych), so my impression is that I won't be doing too many blood draws and IV starts (correct me if I'm wrong.) Thank you! All responses are appreciated.

[elle_RN]

My hands have always been a bit trembly but it hasn't been a problem with IVs so far. Like other posters have said you've usually got a part of your lower arm or hand resting on something and that helps. My problem is AFTER I've got in in, all that adrenaline has made me shaky and I look nervous getting everything taped up. So I've become one of those people that has their tape all set up and torn before I even look at the needle.

[wbrogers]

Thanks everyone! I'm feeling a lot less stressed about perfecting IVs and blood draws. Hopefully I'll become a pro like you all some day :)

[spider_arn]

wooh! this 3pm i will be having my completion duty as an IV nurse. Hopefully i will be able to overcome this shaky hands... God bless me and all nurses...

[canesdukegirl, BSN, RN]

First please I BEG YOU, do NOT tell your patient that "this will feel like a bee sting". People run from bees for a reason! When nurses say this to me right before I am getting an IV, I automatically freak out. I usually tell my patients that an IV start feels like your little brother (or sister) is pinching you while in the backseat of the car while your parents are yelling at you to quit clowning around. This usually gets a chuckle, and makes them a bit more relaxed. Take a deep breath yourself. Place your tourniquet. Choose a vein. Swab with alcohol. When you are ready to place the IV, put the heel of your hand distal to the site, with your last three fingers splayed out-kind of like you are making the "OK" sign. This should give you enough stability to insert the needle and thread the cannula.

I used to have shaky hands too, but I have found that if I just visualize the cannula with flashback, I am more relaxed. I know it sounds kooky, but it worked for me! Good luck to you. I am sure that you will do fine.

[belgarion]

My hands have always been a bit trembly but it hasn't been a problem with IVs so far. Like other posters have said you've usually got a part of your lower arm or hand resting on something and that helps. My problem is AFTER I've got in in, all that adrenaline has made me shaky and I look nervous getting everything taped up. So I've become one of those people that has their tape all set up and torn before I even look at the needle.

I'm glad to know that this happens to other people as well. My hand is steady as a rock getting the canula into the vein. After is a different story. We use these "IV Securement" kits and my hands start shaking the minute I start putting all the little do-dads they pack inside them in place. The same thing would probably happen if I was using regular tape. I guess it's a release of the tension that occurs during the actual stick.

[sunnycalifRN]

OP,

don't worry . . . as others have said, the "shakes" are most likely just "nerves" . . . it happened to me, too. On my second IV start on a patient, I had a woman who was kind of "high strung" and she was watching me like a hawk. When I went to insert the angiocath, my hand was trembling as I approached my "target" . . . she shrieked, "My gawd, he's shaking like a leaf!!! (very loudly!!) . . . I'm sure I turned bright red . . . but I got the IV!! After she saw that I was successful, she stopped shouting.

With practice, you will gain confidence and the "shakes" will just be a funny memory!!

*BTW - avoid too much strong coffee. It will give me the "shakes" and I'm not nervous.