Shaky hands

*lisa* · Jul 13, 2006

So I am the only one??

tookewlandy · Jul 13, 2006

No you are not the only one. I would not say I have very shaky hands, but when I get nervous i get a little shaky. I have found that when I am nervous I do not breath as well, so if I take a deep breath every once in a while the shakiness seems to subside. I went through my CNA skills test like that, i was so nervous and i just kept telling myself "Do not Rush, Take a deep breath and be confident" and it worked. Now i know CNA is going to be nothing compared to nursing so that nervousness will probably come back, but my advise would be to just be confident and tell yourself it will be ok. REMEMBER to breath :-)

Andy

RNsRWe, ASN, RN · Jul 13, 2006

Anybody else have a problem with sorta shaky hands?? :imbar Its rather mild but enough that sometimes it is noticeable to others. I think I mostly do this when I am really nervous. Does anyone else have this problem?? If so how has it affected you as far as nursing goes?

A whole LOTTA people have shaky hands when they're nervous. With enough practice on a skill that requires careful dexterity, you should be able to control it. You may be nervous, but you will just have to practice enough that your "hand memory" will get you through. Yes, your instructor will stop you from giving an injection if it looks like you're going to hit shoulder instead of the deltoid muscle. :) But if you practice alot, even when nervous, you should manage fine. I oughta know : during a skill eval in our school lab I got so nervous I thought I was going to actually drop the syringe (insulin eval)! I tell ya, I was shaking. BUT when it came time to give it to an actual human: no problem :)

HididiScribbler · Jul 13, 2006

Me too! It made my instructor think I was the most nervous person in the group... *sighs* And then after a while, my hands would shake anytime she was watching me do anything... it's getting better, though. I just...try to think it away

shock-me-sane · Jul 14, 2006

yup. when i get nervous my hands shake. sometimes it happens doing something i have done a couple of times even. it all depends on what i am telling myself in my head.

you should have seen me inserting my first catheter (good thing the guy who was getting it was near comatose). my hands also tend to shake (but only sometimes) when i am drawing up meds with a needle or starting an iv. if i remember to calm myself down before i am usually fine now. i just go through the procedure in my head, tell myself i've done it before and i can do it.

*lisa* · Jul 14, 2006

Its good to know that It can be done :)

BoonersmomRN · Jul 14, 2006

Oh you are so not alone.

I am the worst nervous-wreck when being watched. I can't even type at a computer if I know someone is watching over my shoulder. lol

Clinical was hard for me at first- I'd break out into a MAD sweat and I'd be dropping things.....my skills lab teacher finally took me aside and told me that I had wonderful skills but that I A) needed to believe in myself and B) take a deep breath and count to 10 before I started anything

After that talk everytime my instructor came to do a skill with me..or meds...I would take a deep breath and tell myself it was OK and count to 10. Yeah, I still got nervous and yeah, I still sweated...but the shaky thing subsided.

At the end of clinical my instructor- who wasn't pleasant- actually told me she knew about my anxiety and thought it kept me in check. She said she thinks it keeps me inline...whatever that means....anywho...it did get better.

gooch951 · Jul 14, 2006

Now this is a good question! I have been known to have shakey hands..as in just shakey hands! :yelclap: Tey call it pasmado in tagalog/Spanish and that Iinherited it from my dad. It comes and goes..more often when i am tired.

One time i was medicating this patient for pain IV push and he told me to relax and that he doesn't bite...LOL it's bad hu? hate it!!!!

gng2uk · Aug 25, 2006

i can relate well to what u're feeling. i always feel anxious everytime i

do some procedures, especially when i assist in minor operations. i cant

control my hand from shaking especially when i have to handle the needle

or syringe, or cut the suture. i couldnt even put the blade on the

scalpel because of my nervousness!!

i know my friends are secretly making fun of me because of this. but i

dont have control over it. i get really scared and nervous. any advice on

how to deal with this?

now, im thinking, do i still have a career in nursing? my self-confidence

is getting affected. has any one of u ever experienced this?

Nurseismade RN · Aug 25, 2006

Hi Lisa,

you will find very helpful posts about "shaky hands" just type it in the search.

here is a website I found useful

http://www.essentialtremor.org/

moonischasingme1 · Aug 25, 2006

That's nothing! When I get nervous,my entire chest/neck get all red and blotchy--it is very noticeable and yes, everyone points it out, and YES, I KNOW IT IS RED..AND NO, IT DOES NOT HELP WHEN YOU POINT IT OUT!

Actually, this seems to happen even when I am NOT nervous. If I am in a new situation or anything, it just happens. I won't even feel nervous, but yeah, IT SUCKS!!!