1st year student with a slight fear of needles

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Hi my name is Rachel and I'm going into my first year of nursing at Ryerson University. I'm really excited to go into the medical field for that's all I've ever considered doing my whole life. I wouldn't consider doing anything else but nursing although I have a big problem. The other day my boyfriend was getting his wisdom teeth taken out and I fainted when the iv was put into him. In the past I've fainted a few times while receiving needles and been a little sqeamish watching other people get needles but I thought I got over it a while ago. I was recently volunteering at a hospital in the ER and nothing bothered me although I didn't get to see too much as I was only a volunteer. I really want to go into nursing and I don't want to worry my first year about passing out in any of my placements because it would be really embarressing as a nursing student. Does anyone have any ideas on how to get over my fear of needles and has anyone else experienced a fear of needles and later became a nurse?? Thanks for your help.

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Specializes in LTC.

My fear of needles kept me from going to nursing school for 5 years. Then I got a job in an Operating room, and had so much exposure that it no longer bothers me. I think if you tell your instructors about your fear, they will be able to help you. You are not the only one to enter the medical field with a fear of needles.

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I'm squeamish with needles as well (and doing my pre-reqs) and have heard that like almost everything else (nudity, etc), you see enough of them, and you get over it. =) Have faith in yourself and I think you will be able to get over any sort of fear to needles. =D

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Needles used to bother me...until I was on the "giving" rather than the "receiving" side. I have absolutely no problem inflicting pain on others! I've been giving injections, drawing blood, etc. since 1992 and it never makes me woozey. Now, watching my child have blood drawn by someone else...that makes me woozey!

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Specializes in 19 yrs CNA.

I never really had a problem looking @ needles, but I always had a fear of hurting the client. But during my first year I gave ssooo many heparin injections that I kind-of gotten use to it. Just talk to your instructor and they will help you to relax around needles. GOOD LUCK!!!!!

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Specializes in ER, ICU, Education.

As an instructor, I can tell you this is really a common problem. I have my students repeatedly give injections to the mannikin, an orange, etc. Our students also go to a flu clinic during their clinical rotation in the first semester, so they have many, many chances to become used to the experience.

It's also different giving an injection vs. getting one or seeing one performed on someone you love. I have watched some pretty gory things in my career, and had no issues with it. But if my loved one is in pain, that's a different story!

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One of my classmates had a horrible fear of needles. When we started giving injections in lab (to hot dogs, oranges, injection pads, etc.) she was scared but did just fine. By the time we started injecting each other, she had gotten over her fear for the most part. However, when it was her turn to receive an injection, she had to look away and squeeze someone's arm. As long as she's not the one getting stuck she's completely confident. I hope you can overcome your fear as well--and I agree with the previous poster who said it's like nudity and you get used to it with repeated exposure.

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Needles used to bother me...until I was on the "giving" rather than the "receiving" side. I have absolutely no problem inflicting pain on others! I've been giving injections, drawing blood, etc. since 1992 and it never makes me woozey. Now, watching my child have blood drawn by someone else...that makes me woozey!

DEAD ON CORRECT! I have near panic attacks when having my blood drawn or seeing my husband have his drawn. The difference between a clinical scenario and your own personal fears is that you are not emotionally involved with the patient. As crass as it sounds, I don't care if it hurts them...as long as it doesn't hurt me. This is NOT to imply that I don't care about people hurting...it's just that the fact of the matter is that a sharp piece of metal going piercing your skin and entering your vein is inherently painful...but it has to be done in order to help the patient get better. I am careful and do what I can to minimize their pain, but at the end of the day I don't care one tiny bit if they felt pain from having blood drawn/IV inserted, etc. Better them than me.

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Specializes in Geriatrics.

I am so afraid of needles and getting shots. Well to tell you the truth it's really not such a big deal its just getting preped for it. It probably shouldn't take but a couple of seconds to get a shot but with me it takes a few minutes. That may not sound like a big deal but the nurse that has to give me the shot usually gets upset with me and has to go get someone else to help or talk to me which really doesn't help either.

I started NS on Aug.17 and that's one of the main things I could think about. NEEDLES. I know that as a nurse I will have to give many many shots. Maybe that won't be a problem maybe it will I don't know I'm just trying to take things one day at a time because it is going so fast.

Hopefully my fear of needles will cease as the year progress!!!!

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Needles have always bothered me, but only when I'm on the receiving end. You can give me a syringe and I can play around with it and have no problem giving injections to my patients (of course if my instructor is watching, then I get nervous :chuckle:) but if I have to get an injection of some sort, FORGET IT! I had to get my wisdom teeth out 2 years ago and they put me under general anesthesia. They hooked me up to a little heart monitor and then gave me some laughing gas for awhile...then they said to me, "okay M, we're going to put the needle in now and start the medication, you're going to start feeling really drowsy" and my heart rate went from being a nice and steady 60-100bpm to >100bpm...instant tachycardia :chuckle: and of course that was the last thing that I remember...

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Specializes in Psych.

If it helps, when I watched my dad get his finger sutured (very lucky chain saw accident), I ended up in his guerney with oxygen on! It was terribly embarassing, especially since the staff and I had been talking about nursing school. They all assured me it was because I was emotionally involved. Since then, I've started the full time nursing program and have definitely seen some yicky wounds in clinicals. Nothing has knocked me sideways. I think you'll be all right, especially if you talk about it with your instructors.

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I was the same way . . . it was the reason why I never considered going into nursing. I was nervous the first several times. Now it's just another nursing skill. I practiced at home with a foam pad so the placement of my hands and handling the syringe didn't feel so awkward. So my tip is to practice, practice, practice.

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