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        New Message Board Archives >> 2004 Posts >> Need a nurse to tell me something!
        
(Message started by: Elaine on May 12^th, 2004, 4:43pm)

Title: Need a nurse to tell me something!
Post by Elaine on May 12^th, 2004, 4:43pm

OK Deveny takes the depro vera shot every three months. They gave her the needles so she can get ME to give her the shot. I am use to giving myself a shot of Imitrex with a very small needle. This needle they gave her is 1 and half inches long!! Am I surpose to put that whole needle in her arm, how far do you push the needle in. HELP!!

Title: Re: Need a nurse to tell me something!
Post by Lizzie2 on May 12^th, 2004, 4:45pm

OK first question...is the shot supposed to be IM (Intramuscular) or SC (Subcutaneous)? That makes a difference!

Lizzie

Title: Re: Need a nurse to tell me something!
Post by no-one on May 12^th, 2004, 4:55pm

Hi Elaine,

I am not an RN but I can help you, I think, but it would always be safer to talk to the Dr.s office, I can't belive they sent it home with her and not tought anyone how to give the inj.

If the needle is 1 1/2 than it is to be an IM injection. what is the gauge on the needle( it will tell you on the wrapper)? If the gauge size is 27 or 30 you should have no problems giving the ing. Please let me know what size they gave her if you wouldn't mind.

With an IM inj. you need to streach the tissue out and always insert the hallow side up. You need to make sure that you leave atleast 1/4 of an inch out of the tissue(in case the tip would break off, which never happens but could).

I hope this helps

Becky

Title: Re: Need a nurse to tell me something!
Post by Lizzie2 on May 12^th, 2004, 6:12pm

Also what I learned about giving IM injections (to myself). If you place one hand up near the top of your leg with fingers pointing down and the other hand around the knee with fingers pointing up...the area between your fingers is where you should best do the injection. (Sorry...kind of hard to explain without showing you.)

When looking for a spot to inject, avoid freckles and areas where you can see veins. Sometimes the skin is tough to get through. If you come from above and do it rapidly (think...sort of like throwing a dart - but not really!) it is easier than putting the needle against the skin and then pushing it in.

Like Becky said, keep a tiny portion of the needle out of the skin. Once the needle is in, draw back on the syringe slightly to make sure that you are not in a vein. So long as no blood comes back up the syringe, you are ok to go ahead and push the medication in.

I dispose of my needles in an empty Tide container...generally it takes forever to fill up these containers..depending on how often you use the needles.

**If you wind up in a vein, take the needle out and put some pressure over the site. You can then twist the needle end out of the syringe and replace it with a different needle head. Don't just shoot the med down the drain. $$!! If you have any other problems with the needle, you can replace it that way as well. I like to double check that they are twisted on tightly before using it...just in case!

I'd definately want to double check with a doctor or nurse from your office to get directions on how the shot should be given, but that's my attempt to describe in words what I've been taught!

Good luck,
Lizzie

Title: Re: Need a nurse to tell me something!
Post by Elaine on May 12^th, 2004, 8:50pm

Yes its a 21g IM ! I bet I find someone else that can do this. I don't have any problem giving myself shots but not giving someone a shot like that. I think I am totally convenced to have the doctor give it to her. I was told by my doctor only a doctor could give them . Then they sent her home needles.

Title: Re: Need a nurse to tell me something!
Post by Little Deb on May 12^th, 2004, 9:45pm

OK, Elaine. Just read this post.

My advice...DO NOT give Depro yourself. I don't know what kind of office gave you that, but that does not sound right to me.

Depro is an IM shot. Should be given in the Glut, (bottom). It is not a comfortable injection, because the Dep is thicker than some meds.

But, bottom line, an IM injection should be given by a licensed person. Or someone working under someone with a license, like a Medical Assistant. They are trained to give shots too.

Giving an IM injection involves risks. There are of course veins and arteries, that you can hit, but more importantly, especially in the Glut, there are nerves. Each persons anatomy is different. Basically laid out the same, but there are variations. It is too risky for an untrained person to give an IM injection. There are bones you can hit, as well as nerves, like the sciatic nerve.

Even diabetics receive training before giving insulin, and it is a simple subcutaneous injection.

Not saying you can't learn and that it is difficult to do. It is actually easy. But if the doctor really wants you to do this, he should have trained you. This is not something to take lightly. I have never, never heard of anyone giving their own birth control injections at home. Every 3 months, there should be a follow up, to monitor periods, weight gain, cramping, etc.

Just my two cents Elaine.

Good luck...Little Deb, R.N.

Title: Re: Need a nurse to tell me something!
Post by Jeepgun on May 13^th, 2004, 9:41am

I need a nurse too. Maybe around 5'8", with long long legs, a sweet smile, nice eyes, one of those tight, white dresses, and high heels, with white fishnet stockings, and soft, gentle hands and... er... :o [smiley=laugh.gif] ;;D

Title: Re: Need a nurse to tell me something!
Post by Leesa on May 13^th, 2004, 1:48pm

Well that leaves me out!! Damn!! >:( *kicking dirt* WAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA *sniff* WAAAAAAAAAAA *sniff sniff* :'(

LMAOROTF Jeep that was funny!!
Leesa ;;D

Title: Re: Need a nurse to tell me something!
Post by Jeepgun on May 13^th, 2004, 2:01pm

;;D

Title: Re: Need a nurse to tell me something!
Post by thomas on May 13^th, 2004, 2:07pm

on 05/13/04 at 09:41:29, Jeepgun wrote:

Did you know that before Florence Nightengale "cleaned up" the nursing industry, most nurses where drunks and prostitutes....... ah the good old days. ;;D

Title: Re: Need a nurse to tell me something!
Post by Redd715 on May 13^th, 2004, 2:09pm

on 05/13/04 at 09:41:29, Jeepgun wrote:

damn 3 inches too short....

oh well....

Title: Re: Need a nurse to tell me something!
Post by Jeepgun on May 13^th, 2004, 2:09pm

Damn Florence Nightengale! Grrrrr... >:( ;;D

Title: Re: Need a nurse to tell me something!
Post by Lizzie2 on May 13^th, 2004, 2:16pm

Oy....well I guess it is a good thing she cleaned it up! Or else I'm not sure I'd be going into that profession!!

Still made me laugh though!! [smiley=laugh.gif]

Title: Re: Need a nurse to tell me something!
Post by thomas on May 13^th, 2004, 2:18pm

on 05/13/04 at 14:16:47, Lizzie2 wrote:

Oy....well I guess it is a good thing she cleaned it up! Or else I'm not sure I'd be going into that profession!!

Still made me laugh though!! [smiley=laugh.gif]

well, there will be some damn lucky patients. ;;D I'm positive you will make a great nurse.

Title: Re: Need a nurse to tell me something!
Post by Lizzie2 on May 13^th, 2004, 2:20pm

LMAO Thomas!! Thanks!! ;;D

In a couple weeks, I'll be learning how to do things like start IVs and draw blood...this should be darn interesting!!! hehe

Title: Re: Need a nurse to tell me something!
Post by thomas on May 13^th, 2004, 2:23pm

on 05/13/04 at 14:20:26, Lizzie2 wrote:

LMAO Thomas!! Thanks!! ;;D

In a couple weeks, I'll be learning how to do things like start IVs and draw blood...this should be darn interesting!!! hehe

Most important thing about iv's ; stabalize the vein and don't jerk the needle back when blood appears in the flash chamber. ...........thomas (who has more skills than anyone could ever count) ;;D

Title: Re: Need a nurse to tell me something!
Post by Lizzie2 on May 13^th, 2004, 2:31pm

on 05/13/04 at 14:23:46, thomas wrote:

Most important thing about iv's ; stabalize the vein and don't jerk the needle back when blood appears in the flash chamber. ...........thomas (who has more skills than anyone could ever count) ;;D

Haha! Good piece of advice...I'll keep that in mind. :)
A few of the places that I've had blood draws and IVs done, they can never see my veins because they are very tiny and very deep, so some of the nurses and techs just stick the needle in and move it around till they hit something. I would have to say...I hope I don't get taught THAT technique!! Talk about painful... hehe

Title: Re: Need a nurse to tell me something!
Post by Jeepgun on May 13^th, 2004, 2:44pm

In Army medical school, we practiced IV's, blood draws, and the three kinds of injections on each other. I have to say, it's not nearly so bad on the receiving end as it is, when you're the one who has to stick someone else. On the other hand, you can adopt the attitude, "Pain is the patient's problem, and yeah, I may be hurting them, but with the purpose of helping them."

Worked for me! ;;D

Title: Re: Need a nurse to tell me something!
Post by Lizzie2 on May 13^th, 2004, 2:51pm

on 05/13/04 at 14:44:24, Jeepgun wrote:

LOL Jeep! This reminds me of all the IVs I've had started (hundreds!!) The nurses always apologize to me for how many tries it takes to get an IV stick, and I wind up apologizing to them because my veins suck so much! Nothing I can do about it really, but I still feel bad for them!

I have this bad feeling that in return for how bad my veins have been for nurses, I'm going to get stuck putting IVs in people with bad veins who yell loudly when you don't get it! LMAO!

Title: Re: Need a nurse to tell me something!
Post by Jeepgun on May 13^th, 2004, 2:56pm

Messin' around during practice, when I was getting stuck, I'd start whining and sobbing about how much it hurt. LOL The poor kid with the needle would be turning pale and getting all nervous. LOL!

If you want to improve your vascularity, weightlifting is a big help. :)

Title: Re: Need a nurse to tell me something!
Post by Redd715 on May 13^th, 2004, 2:57pm

Lizzy hunny,

Wait till you come across your first big burly he-man type that passes out when you draw blood...

Then try to remember back to the story of the Mechanic who baild on me over my psychsomatic he can cure all HA's...

(and try not to ROFLYAO)

Title: Re: Need a nurse to tell me something!
Post by Lizzie2 on May 13^th, 2004, 3:51pm

on 05/13/04 at 14:56:59, Jeepgun wrote:

Frank! LMAO You're a meanie!! hahaha
I heard that we practice IVs on each other in nursing school. Hmmmm no way is some brand new nursing student gonna be stabbing my veins if people with 30 years of experience can't get em!! haha

I did have 2 picc lines to alleviate the need for IVs altogether, but then the one picc caused 2 blood clots, and when they do the test for protime levels, they have to take the blood directly out of the vein and not through the picc. Darn it if that didn't mean getting stuck every time again!! LMAO

This is going to be too funny... ;)

Title: Re: Need a nurse to tell me something!
Post by nancyc on May 13^th, 2004, 5:03pm

E, i totally agree with Little Deb...Her GYN should have given the injection....it does not matter if they had given you instructions, only a licensed person should give IM injections...that is why we went to school LOL...honestly though, I know two people right now that are suffering, and one of them is on a morphine pump for life, due to fact a nurse hit a nerve giving an injection...so why would someone that knows nothing about injections be expected to do this? Even nurses make mistakes but to expect someone who has NEVER done this to give someone an injection is ridiculous... Find a new Doc...love ya, nancyc PS Depo injections are uncomfortable and will make migaines and chs worse if Devany has problems with either ...speaking from experience.