Mitten Hands Strikes Again
November 15, 2012 5:27 PM Subscribe
When I have to use syringes at my job for blood draws and catheterization I get what I've been calling "mitten hands" and loose fine motor control. Anyone have any tips or tricks for holding/using syringes?
I think this is a mix of nerves and an essential tremor that I self diagnosed/have had my entire life.
I think this is a mix of nerves and an essential tremor that I self diagnosed/have had my entire life.
If you want something to practice on, I got this for a friend in nursing school. The skin feels pretty lifelike and you can run fluids through a tube in the arm to simulate a blood draw, running an IV, etc.
posted by Ghostride The Whip at 7:16 PM on November 15, 2012
posted by Ghostride The Whip at 7:16 PM on November 15, 2012
Hold it like a dart, not a pen.
posted by hobo gitano de queretaro at 7:24 PM on November 15, 2012
posted by hobo gitano de queretaro at 7:24 PM on November 15, 2012
When I used to do blood draws, I would use my left thumb to pull the skin tight, then I would rest the vacutainer against the back of my thumb to help guide it. Kind of like what you would do with a pool cue. That helped steady my aim.
posted by kamikazegopher at 10:00 AM on November 16, 2012
posted by kamikazegopher at 10:00 AM on November 16, 2012
This thread is closed to new comments.
Also make sure you're using the proper hand position for your particular equipment. Some needles have wings or safety tabs or all kinds of extra doohickies hanging off the sides, and it can be hard to figure out the best way to hold them. If you're not used to the models you're using, ask somebody more experienced to show you how they prefer to grip the things.
Also, are you new to this job? I used to get super nervous about giving injections when I first started as a nurse (I used to be terrified of needles), leading to clumsiness and shaky hands. And then fear that my hands would shake and the patient would notice would make me even more nervous, which leads to more tremors... But now that I've done it over and over and over, it doesn't even register as something to worry about, and my hands are back to feeling normal. Maybe you just need more time for your brain to stop freaking out about the needles?
posted by vytae at 6:12 PM on November 15, 2012