I wouldn't say I've ever really been keen on needles, but I don't mind being around them, as long as they aren't directed at me. Given my record of fainting when giving blood or getting shots, I thought the hardest part of my EMT-I class would be letting others start IVs on me. As it turns out (and despite the large hematoma I received during that process), my biggest road block so far was sticking needles in other people. The IV arms (pictured above) were helpful for practicing, but I noticed that whatever I did, I did not cause them pain. It's impossible to fully prepare for the moment of truth: sticking an actual person.
Luckily for me, I had some excellent instructor-subjects, who not only let me practice venipuncture on them, but coached me through the process. I can't say enough about how helpful it was to have them remain calm in the face of my "fishing" (that's what it's called when you hunt for the vessel), all the while providing instructive feedback like, "No, it doesn't hurt. I think you're right on top of it. Feel through the skin for the needle and see if it's still heading for the vein. Don't give up. Maybe you're alongside it..." etc. Their well-feigned confidence in me was critical, as it provided me with enough gumption to follow through and finally get "flashback", the happy sight of blood rushing into the needle's chamber, announcing success.
Getting past the puncture itself, when the needle first pierces the skin, is the hardest part for both the patient (physically) and the provider (psychologically). Once you move past the patient's nerves it no longer hurts, so it's important not to hover at those initial layers. But newbies, unsure of what they're doing and hesitant to perform something so invasive, dread the depths and the possibility of not being successful. It's like standing over the water, preparing to dive. The longer you wait, the more painful the process is.
I'm happy to be past that hurdle; now I'm anxious to start sticking patients. And now I can be a more helpful pretend patient for my fellow classmates.
