What I'm most worried about!!

THELIVINGWORST, ASN, RN · Jul 10, 2013

As someone who has an essential tremor that is intentional, I understand your concern. However, you will be given plenty of opportunity to practice on mannequins before you are even allowed to do an IV on a person. :)

douxmusique · Jul 11, 2013

I think youre not the only one afraid of this. Its not a common occurence to just start injection forrign objects and chemicals into other human beings. You will have enough training and supervision to be able to know what youre doing to gain plenty of confidence in the situation.

As naive student nurses I think we all have some sort of ridiculous fear that we all know we have to deal with and overcome. Personally I know I will have a hard time with cleaning vomit/diarrhea, not because it is gross but because I wont be able to stop worrying and escalating racing thoughts of contracting whatever sickness im helping to clean up. I know its part of the job and I know i will be doing it but it doesnt make this very real anxiety go away. Im hoping the more I have to wipe up the less I will have a literal phobia to deal with. Exposure therapy....

KJ87, BSN, RN · Jul 11, 2013

First, take a deep breath....and let it out. :) I believe most programs have you go through a skills lab in which you practice basic skills on mannequins before you even step foot on the floor. So you will definitely get plenty of practice before you have to stick a live patient. I personally found performing anything, but especially IVs, on the mannequins was a lot harder than it was on actual people. If you're getting it in the skills lab, then you'll be fine out in the real world. It does take practice, and every patient you have will be different. As far as hurting them, when you learn how to properly start IVs and feel confident in your abilities, you'll be able to move in swiftly with just a pinch of pain (for the whiners).

Also, your entire nursing education does not pend on your ability to start IVs. There are amazing nurses who have trouble starting IVs, and there are not-so-great nurses who could start them in their sleep. It's just a skill, and you're not required to master it to be an excellent nurse. Just keep that in mind. I'm sure you will do fine and you'll surprise yourself with how good you are at it.

NotMyProblem MSN, ASN, BSN, MSN, LPN, RN · Jul 11, 2013

Relax. Nursing school doesn't even scratch the surface of what skills you will learn afterwards. There's A LOT to be said for OTJ training!

anashenwrath, ASN, RN · Jul 11, 2013

I agree with the others. Take a breath! You'll have plenty of opportunities to practice and to watch nurses in clinicals perform these things, and that will make it less intimidating. The first time I gave an injection to a real person, I was shaking like a leaf! By the end of that same week, I was barely batting an eye. And I'm sure it will be the same for you with IVs! :)

FutureNurse114 · Jul 11, 2013

I'm nervous about it as well. We do have tons of practice in lab however aren't allowed to do IVs until we graduate so no practice on humans until we are in the real world. That is scary to me. Lol.

MJH3483, BSN, RN · Jul 11, 2013

I can promise you will have bigger and more important things to worry about than needles, etc. Just relax and realize that like everything, you will get through this and look back laughing at yourself. I think I did 12-14 lab hours practicing a bed bath and linen change before getting tested on it.