Wednesday, November 16, 2011

Unwilling Guinea Pig

If any of you are squeamish about needles (as I am) leave now and return for my next update. The rest of you, consider this a warning.

If you have to get blood drawn (which I did a couple of days ago) and the nurse comes in a with an "apprentice" nurse who is clearly in training and asks the head nurse if she has a) found an acceptable vein and b) how to connect the needle to the vial, PLEASE do not feel guilty about speaking up and asking the real nurse to take charge.

I know these people have to learn, and they have to learn on real humans (don't they practice on each other??) but if you are too nice, the following will ensue:

Apprehension:
Initial unhappiness/discomfort upon contact:
Blinding pain and rage followed by screaming "Ow, ow, ow that really *&^#$(*Q#$ hurts!!!":
Until the head nurse takes over and the black, fainty spots in front of your eyes go away.

Yeah you may feel a little bad that the nurse-in-training has probably been traumatized, but YOU are the one who had a needle jabbed almost clear through your arm, so you get to call the shots. (Get it? Shots?)

She's lucky I didn't have Lilah eat her face.

7 comments:

Joanne said...

I have had that happen to me a few times. Once however I was really uncomfortable with the student being there but I felt wierd saying no. I should have listened to that inner voice!
Blessings, Joanne

Cynthia DiFilippo Elomaa said...

I get allergy shots once a week. Some times they are fine, others not so much. I guess I'm just amuine. But I know where you're coming from. so sorry! :-)

Sarah Tokeley said...

I agree you should speak up. If people are too polite then the trainee doesn't know they're doing it wrong. Hope you're fully recovered :-)

Shannon Lawrence said...

Ugh, when I had my first child I got the student nurse. Now, going into labor for the very first time is sort of scary on its own, but having the student nurse doing all your check-in and the IV and such is no fun. I did let her do it, though. Sigh.

Love the cat pics. Especially the one that looks like a pre-sneeze.

Missed Periods said...

I know myself. I'd feel too bad to say anything. But you're totally right.

Anonymous said...

Oh, lordy. I had a baseball-sized bruise after my last tetanus shot because of this very sort of thing.

:) Found your blog via the lovely AG. I do love the kitties ever so much.

DWei said...

Ugh, some of the trainee nurses are really dumb at times. I remember once one of them tried to bandage up.

Not even a minute later the dressing was coming off.