I think I'm really starting to get into this whole nursing thing... I have discovered that I LIKE giving shots to people! It's not that I enjoy the prospect of causing them pain - it's trying to perfect my technique and minimize pain that I find so addictive. Yesterday we held two flu clinics at the same long-term care facility where I had my clinicals, in the independent and assisted living sections. Our instructor was hoping we'd each be able to give 2 shots at each clinic, and I think we ended up averaging about 7 each. We managed to talk several staff members into getting vaccinated too, so that increased our numbers quite a bit. Giving shots to the elderly is definitely a challenge because they don't have the same skin and muscle tone as younger people, and when you "dart" the needle into their arm it sort of feels like pushing a needle into clay. We were all very nervous for our first shot but hid it well (so as to avoid freaking out the patients) and with each successive shot, we started feeling better. I ended up giving a total of nine! Our vaccines came in vials so we had to draw up each one, which was excellent practice too. At first we were disappointed that they weren't in predosed syringes, but I think that would have been too easy. It's better to learn the hard way so that in the future, we can handle any situation.
Afterward we all went out to lunch at a Chinese restaurant with our instructor, who is now officially finished with our group for this term. (I'm going to really miss her!) Next week we switch to a new instructor who will supervise our clinicals at the hospital - she's only a year older than me and really cool, so I'm sure I'll love working with her too. I came home and took a nap, then headed out to a health fair at a local middle school where about six of us represented Chemeketa's nursing program and offered blood pressure screening. I'm off today and then tomorrow am helping out with another health fair at a church that offers free services and education to underprivileged people in our community. (Hopefully I'll get to give more shots!!!)
Have a good weekend!
Welcome!
Because I don't have much time for emailing friends and family these days, I'm going to use this blog as a "nursing school journal" to keep you all updated on my progress.
1 comment:
One technique that I've found handy for primarily subcutaneous injections with patients that bite, kick or scratch you is "reffered pain" to distract from the needle penetration. I pinch the skin, enough to be felt and be distracting, before and while actually slipping the needle in. With IV injections/draws, I press the needle point down firmly on the skin (as parallel to it as possible) before "sliding" it through the skin. Pressure on nerves has a deadening effect, so this little trick gives you a sort-of topical anasethia effect. I learned this one on horses, who don't like surprises like "darting" an injection, which makes them prone to trying to kick your head off.
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