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Studying nursing with a needle phobia?

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Author Studying nursing with a needle phobia?

jiveturkey

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  • Joined: Mar 2015
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  • Posts: 3

Mon Mar 16, 2015 12:03 pm

Hi all,

I'm considering a career change to nursing after a number of years working in mental health/health research. I would love to become a mental health nurse but the one (very significant, I might add) barrier that's stopped me changing course has been my phobia of needles....like, I'm that 30 year old woman who has to lie down and cuddle the kid's stuffed toy when I go and get a blood test. The thought of having to stick a needle into someone makes me feel nauseous.

Is this something you have to do while studying nursing? I'm generally okay with other bodily fluids - blood itself doesn't faze me - it's just the thought of puncturing someone's skin/muscle/blood vessel that I can't handle.....

Any experiences/advice would be so greatly appreciated!

doug_mmm

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doug_mmm
  • Joined: Mar 2015
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Mar 19, 2015, 01:45 am

Hi Jiveturkey,

Im hoping to do Enrolled nursing at TAFE this july. I think I can understand your problem. I became a volunteer ambulance officer here in WA and was concerned in that I was a tad squeemish. The only way I could think of to get over it was to look at gruesome trauma pictures. This I did frequently and have to be honest felt nauseous at times. However I eventually got used to it ( but it was a struggle at times) and after that every incident I attended was a walk in the park. So you can anticipate what Im going to suggest. Watch eg Youtube videos on veinupuncture ( spelling?) and frequently. If that doesnt conquer it is there anyway you could explain to a phlebotimist and ask to observe from a distance? Gradually every patient position yourself say 1 foot closer. If that fails you could try hypnosis, but as a realistic hypnosis objective of say not think doing needles was OK rather to diminish your sensitivity to it so it was do-able rather than great. Just my $0.02 worth. Hope it works out for you Jiveturkey.

snapey

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snapey
  • Joined: Jan 2013
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Mar 19, 2015, 11:14 pm

Hello Jive!

I am studying Bachelor of Nursing (Mental Health) and I'm in my final year. I haven't had to give many injections at all. I've done one acute placement where I gave maybe 5 all up, and then a few to practice at uni on dummies. Don't let a fear of needles hold you back! The tutors are all nurses and I am sure they have dealt with patients who are scared of needles.

Being a MH nurse you still need to give injections but not as many as an acute setting. Give it a go! 

jiveturkey

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  • Joined: Mar 2015
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Mar 27, 2015, 08:24 pm

Thanks doug_mmm and Snapey for your responses - the more I think about it, the more I think I can overcome my issue with needles. It's more about venepuncture (oh god I can hardly even type the word) than giving injections, but I think the idea of seeing pictures/videos/gaining exposure is great and will likely desensitise me over time.

Snapey are you by chance studying at ACU? I saw the Mental Health specific degree and was very curious, so would be keen to hear about your experiences....

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