This a questions for any Registered Nurses!?

I am really squeamish, although the medical field interests me. I am terrified of getting shots and getting blood drawn (I've fainted once before), and doing this on other people freaks me out. Where any of you feeling the same way? It is something you get over and just get used to after a while..such as during clinicals when you are exposed to it?
Any feedback/comments are welcome that are positive and constructive.

I've seen many people who feared shots and were nauseated by the sight of blood, but they graduated nursing school and did fine. They didn't have a problem giving shots, only getting them and they didn't see much blood and when they did they just dealt with it. You can do it.

Chris
ER Nurse

DEPENDS HOW MUCH U WANT TO GET OVER UR OWN PHOBIA OF NEEDLES BLOOD ETC U CAN IF U REALY WANT TO NURSE ALL NURSES HAVE AREAS OF DIFFICULTIES AS WE ARE HUMANS BUT U CAN PLAY AROUND ALOT IN THE LABS TO BECOME COMFORTABLE WITH THE EQUIPTMENT LONG BEFORE U TRIAL ON A CLASS MATE SO U CAN DO IT IF U REALY WANT TO NURSE IF CRUNCH TIME COMES AND U DECIDE U CANT WELL THATS OK U CAN DO ENROLLED NURSING WITH OUT MEDICATION SKILLS OR ASSISTANT NURSING
GOOD LUCK GIRL XXX

If I were you, I'd forget about any career in the health professions, because you will encounter blood and you will encounter shots. You will encounter people throwing up all over the place and you will encounter people crapping in their pants and in their beds and you'll have to clean it up on occasion. Nobody can predict whether you'd be able to steel yourself and persevere in the face of repeated instances of such things, but having over forty years experience, I'd say you sound like one of those who should go into botany.

A lot of nursing students are at least a little sqeamish about needles and seeing various body fluids. You get used to it and things like needles become so routine, they dont bother you.

I start IV's all the time, I dont like causing pain and when people have pain reactions, it bothers me, but putting that 20 guage needle in thier arm is a task, and I dont let anything stop me from completing that task.

My suggestion is to visit a local hospital and job shadow a nurse before investing your energy in going to school for a job you might not like. And if you are scared of needles, find someone who's diabetic and talk to them about their fear of needles and how they approached it when they started giving themselves injections, or even let you give them one. Its no big deal after the first 5 or 10.

Terry, Critical Care Nurse

I really don't mind being poked with needles myself, but the thought of doing it to others bothers me a little. I'm an RN student (possibly starting in January...on the alternate list at my school) and this concerns me too a little. My sister is an RN and she said that this feeling does go away. She said it's a lack of confidence at this point and once you've done it and your sure of yourself, then it won't even phase you.

There are countless other procedures that RNs do besides IV, IM or phlebotomy's that are more nerve racking and stressful.

You'll do fine once in the situation (field) after you get the proper training and experience behind you.

Best of luck!