I’ve had Friday, September 2nd circled on my calendar since May. It was a day I dreaded and a day I wished that I could just get over with. It hung over my head and just sat heavy making me nervous.
It was finally IV day. It had arrived.
Needles don’t scare me–they never have. I’ve had 12 surgeries in my life and plenty of shots, pills, IV’s, stitches–you name it, I’ve had it.
That being said, it’s been a while since I’ve had an IV put in. My last memory of it wasn’t a pleasant one. It was a painful one that left me scared for today. I thought if someone who had experience could cause me that much uncomfort, then it must hurt like hell if a newbie does it on you.
There’s also the fact that I was terrified I was going to mess up and they’d bleed out (can’t happen by the way) or that I’d break off the cannula and it would travel into their system and they’d die.
Ok–all of that’s dramatic–but I was nervous.
As always, I am a happy camper if I can be the pin cushion first. It actually helps me to be stuck first because I get the benefit of seeing someone do it one more time. I learn by repetition and example so this method is a perfect fit.
What a timeline of faces. I call these my “it hurts, but just keep smiling” faces. The pain wasn’t near as bad as I thought–probably because Kirby is a pro at most things.
Let’s all say a quick “thank you” to him! He didn’t kill me and I hardly bled.
He didn’t fare so well.
Kirby, bless his heart, was a bleeder. Only in Nursing School do we get excitement when there’s a lot of blood. He was like the celebrity of IV training day because of this.
When my turn finally came around, I was ready to go. I felt confident and was actually a little bit amped up to puncture some skin.
I prepped all the necessary parts and then participated in some deep breathing to calm myself and Trisha down. Basically, it just made us laugh.
My hands were calm and steady which surprised the heck out of me. I was ready for my hands to be shaking and for my instructor to come hold them so I didn’t rip through her skin.
I threaded the needle and knew right away that I was in a vein when I got a quick flashback of blood.
Hallejuah! At this point, all you need is some nifty hand work to hold the cannula in place and then hook up your J Loop and your syringe. After that, you are good to go.
I did it on my first try. And look at that, the patient is smiling. I hope I get a pretty smiley face like that every time I stick someone. Doubtful.
I left the lab feeling proud and accomplished. I even had….fun.
Perhaps a stint on an IV start team is in my future.
Only time will tell.
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You are my hero! I was actually just thinking yesterday about how amazing nurses are (one of my good nurse friends just came back from volunteering in Haiti). I am petrified of needles and everything that goes along with them, so the thought of being able (and excited) to puncture someone with one is heroic in my books! Having been in the hospital myself a few times, I applaud you.
WOOHOO!!! I am looking forward to/afraid to this skill also net semester. You make everything look so easy! You are so awesome
Wow, replying to posts in your iPhone is terribly full of typos!
You go girl! I think actually starting an IV would be far more terrifying than getting the IV.
Lauren recently posted..Friday Happenings
Yay, that’s amazing. Congrats
I hope next time I need an IV I get someone as wonderful as you!! I’m not scared of needles, but my last experience was absolutely horrible. Ugh I still shudder thinking about it.
Lindsay @ The Gluten-Free Baker recently posted..Single-Serve Pancake Heaven
Congrats!! What a wonderful accomplishment!
Jenny @ Fitness Health and Food recently posted..I Get By With a Little Help from My {Fitness} Friends
good job! Hooking someone to an IV sounds so scary!
debbie recently posted..back to school
Nice work! I have participated in vaccine studies and lots of times it was students doing the blood draws and things. I loved having them! They were so cute and nervous and so excited to get it right. A big deal!
Clare @ Fitting It All In recently posted..Labeling Yourself: Is It Okay To Change The Way You Eat?
Did you guys numb the area before you started the IV – that is what the nursed do at my hosipital. Helps alot.
Denise recently posted..Video to DVD Transfer
No no numbing of the site. We are just tough tough cookies.
woooooo!!!!! so excited for you! haha and ‘the bleeder’ totally reminds of something about mary
Congrats!! That would have me all nervous. I hate needles!
Liz @ Tip Top Shape recently posted..Goddess Salad
Whoa, you are brave! Nice job on getting yours in on the first try!
Laura @ LauraLikesDesign recently posted..Five Four Three Two One, Go!
i remember one of the first times I let someone practice on me starting an IV … I almost passed out because they left the tourniquet on for like 20 minutes trying to find it! Now I always make sure I’m not cutting of my patient’s circulation for too long because I know what will happen!
Kait @ One Love Run recently posted..Summer’s Over – Only According to the Calendar
Congrats! I’d be so nervous to do something like that!
I can’t believe how much your classmate bled… holy crap! At least he’s smiling, so we know he’s ok.
Erica @ For the Sake of Cake recently posted..Long Weekend
Congrats! That would make me so nervous!
Emily @ Perfection Isn’t Happy recently posted..No Excuses
Woot woot! Good job girl
. You are going to be an absolutely fabulous nurse!
Lindsay@ In Sweetness and In Health recently posted..Sleepy Time
Or maybe you can be one of those hot nurses that work in the blood bank of the hospital. Seriously, I uses to volunteer in a hospital and gave a lot of platelets in my day. Anyway, all the nurses there were always hot and blonde… go figure.
kathleen recently posted..That time I broke my husband
HAHA, I am a Med Tech that manages a blood bank and that is so not true where in my lab:)
Denise recently posted..Video to DVD Transfer
Hahaha, apart from the porters. the phlebotomists are the best looking ones in my hospital too. And the most friendly and talkative. Must be a method of distraction
Susan recently posted..Will It French Toast?
I am not a fan of needles – in fact, when I get blood drawn, someone has to hold my hand
Good job on getting it on your first try! Sometimes nerves are in our head than in our soul!
Jess @ Jess Go Bananas recently posted..My Little Pony
Congrats! You did awesome!
I worked at a vet clinic and had to once put a iv in a puppy and haaated doing it. It just wasn’t for me!
Leanne (Bride to Mrs.) recently posted..Puppy VS. Mirror
Wow – congrats!!! That is amazing! I am a bad IV patient because for some reason my veins are really hard to find (even though they are super easy to see). People always have to poke and re-poke and re-poke until they find my vein. It’s a good thing I don’t get IVs very often, I always end up with a bunch of holes in me. I think my hands would have been shaking like crazy – I hate causing other people pain. I do not think I will go into pediatrics because I would hate to have to give kiddos vaccines all the time! Have a great weekend!
Kattrina recently posted..Hurricane Irene
Everytime I get an IV i’m terrified I’ll get an air bubble and it’ll go to my heart & I’ll die. Totally sounds unreasonable but I’m a big baby. I’ve had to get a lot of IV’s the past couple of years from my surprise ER trips, but hopefully those are over for a while. No more needles for me please!!
Jackie @ That Deep Breath recently posted..To Do:
yay! congratulations. i remember my first IV, it’s a very great and exciting feeling!! good job
awesome job Lisa! Knew you could do it!
Meg recently posted..Sooner Born and Sooner Bred
That’s so awesome! Congratulations!
Caroline recently posted..Bon Appetite
That’s awesome! M (my man) is a nurse practitioner and I am always in awe of those that do for a living something that quite frankly. deserves a hell of a lot more credit. Saving lives, doing good for others. The real deal. Nice work!
jobo recently posted..Dream big, love big, live big.
That’s so exciting! I can’t wait until I get a chance to start my first IV. You’re lucky you get to practice on eachother. My school won’t let us do that, we have to practice on fake rubber forearms instead
You know I am well versed with IVs by now (being on the pin cushion side anyway) but I’ll soon be getting a PICC line!! No more rollie veins and bleeding out for me. Instead I get two tubes hanging out of my arm like an alien science experiment
Great job Lisa!!
Susan recently posted..Will It French Toast?
I’m going to start taking the prerequisites for a second bachelor’s in nursing (I have a BA in Anthropology, so I’ll be introducing myself to all the science lab prereqs in the next 2 semesters) and all of your nursing posts are so inspiring and make me so excited!!
Monica (My Middle Way) recently posted..10 Year Vision
I have no problem if needles are giving me something. But not taking something from me like blood work. And I’m in the health professions…I’ve gotten over it though. Sort of. Till next time basically.
It sounds like your so happy with Nursing. It’s a long and tough process. Are you happy with it and look forward to it? I work with a lot of nurses and they are the heart of homes, hospitals, long-term care, etc. Truly. But they also burn out very easily and have to put up with ALOT.
Baking N Books recently posted..Kicking Someone Who’s Already Down
I wish you were my nurse!! I am not very good with needles
not sure why but they scare me, though I have gotten better over time!
Great job!!! I bet you’re one happy camper!
Ashley @ Coffee Cake and Cardio recently posted..A Rainy Gameday
Awesome! I have had some pretty crummy experiences with blood draws and IVs, the most memorable being when I had someone dig in my arm for a vein – I almost passed out! I am glad you got it on the first try – you ROCK!
Deva (Voracious Vorilee) recently posted..September? Already?
WTG!!!! Woot! Sticking people with needles requires skill and finesse. Looks like you are on your way. Patients will appreciate you and may ask for you by name
I speak from experience.
Congratulations! I’m the same way…if I’m nervous, please let me go first!
Ann recently posted..Bourbon Chicken….GRILLED
Oh darling, you are a superstar! There is no way I’d be able to do something like that or even be the pin cushion. I now have so much more respect for nursing that’s for sure!
Robyn (GirlonRaw) recently posted..On This Day…I Thee Wed
Yay way to go! I don’t know how you do it – I can’t even imagine attempting to do something like that. Blood makes me nervous though. haha. Anyway, congrats to you! You are well on your way
Jamie (Sometimes Healthy Girl) recently posted..A Castle Getaway Over Central Park
Wow, way to go! Needles don’t bother me when they’re being inserted into me, but I can’t imagine doing it to someone else!
I have so much respect for all nurses/doctors out there because I KNOW I could NEVER do it!
Samantha recently posted..The Long Run that Wasn’t (Day 13)
I just found your blog and I’m so happy I did
! Congrats on putting in an IV for the first time! I’m also a nursing student in training. -crossing fingers that I pass this semester- We don’t learn IVs but I don’t think it’s an area I would be interested in! Eeep getting blood drawn still freaks me out
Alexis recently posted..Cereal Sunday – Kashi Cinnamon and Honey
Congratulations, Lisa! I am so excited for you to have overcome this first big hurdle in nursing school! I still think it is so awesome you are going to nursing school, and I love reading all about it. Way to go!
Laura@mypurposefullife recently posted..What I’m Loving Right Now
I had a blood test for the first time ever last week and was terrified but it turns out I was fine! Not going to lie this freaks me out though! I could never be a nurse! Congrats on being steady-you will make an awesome nurse:)
Seriously, MAJOR congrats to you for doing this! I think for me, putting an IV in would be one of the most daunting and stressful tasks. You did it like a champ!
Awesome job! You are going to be a kick-butt nurse! <3
Lee @ in the pink of condition recently posted..Outfit post: Date Night
Awesome Lisa!!
Kelly recently posted..24 hours in fear
Good for you!!!
Monica recently posted..5
Good for you! I’ve never seen so many smiles around IVs!
Tiff @ Love, Sweat, and Beers recently posted..Mini Me n’ Mini Post
you are so brave. just reading this post made my arms go numb!!!
Vegetarian in the City recently posted..Long Weekend = Short Week
I don’t know how you do it! Teh thought of sticking someone with a needle makes me cringe!! I am definitely not cut out to be a nurse
I can’t wait to read about all of your other firsts when it comes to nursing school! Plus I’m dying to read the next installment of your mini series!!!
Good job, Lisa! I was nervous for you just reading it. I can’t believe that guy bled so much! You’ll have to Tweet me IV tips when I start school in January
Carly @ Cooking With Carly recently posted..Flower Shopping
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