Ways of Calming a Patient Before a Shot

Nurses and doctors need to define ways of calming a patient before a shot because some have a fear of injections. It is usual to encounter patients with a phobia for shots in clinical settings. It is something that is difficult to overcome, and the nurses can try what they can to calm a patient before an injection to prevent the person from incurring a trauma. Nurses who are just starting their careers should master these strategies that help to calm patients before they get shots.

1.Instruct the patient to breathe in deeply

Instruct a patient to take a deep breath then exhale like during the process of blowing out a candle. The best time to inject is when the patient exhales. Tensed muscles relax more when breathing out, and the patient will feel lesser pain when receiving the shot. Giving an injection when a patient is anxious and the muscles are tense makes the needle to feel more painful.

2.Distraction

Distracting a patient by diverting attention before administering the shot helps to reduce the anxiety that a patient has at that moment. Starting a friendly conversation is a superb method of distracting a patient who fears shots from impending injection explores the interests of the patient when preparing to give the patient an injection. The focus will shift to the matter when a nurse hooks the attention of the patient. Nurses can explain the injection procedure then start discussing other issues such as hobbies or favorite activities. When a patient is in the exciting moment, a nurse should begin injecting the drug, and the process will be over before the patient gets anxious. Encouraging deep breathing and asking questions about favorite or singing a song can help nurses to distract as well as calm children before a shot.

3.Crack a joke

Many patients feel nervous, uncomfortable and sweaty because of the panic they have about getting a shot. A nurse who tells a good joke helps to overcome the nervousness. Humor triggers laughter that distracts nervous patients as it helps to relieve and relax them. Telling a funny joke also helps to establish a rapport with the patient. Some nurses have a sense of humor, and it can be of much help in making their patients forget the ordeal of receiving an injection and the entire ordeal will pass without much pain. It also relaxes the muscles which help to reduce the pain that occurs during injection than when they are tense.

4.Provide the right information

Providing patients with unrealistic assurances before an injection is wrong. For instance, there is no point in telling a patient that a needle will not hurt only for them to feel the “sting.”The right thing is to prepare patients in advance by informing them that shot will hurt but not severely as they fear. A nurse may also inform a patient who fears shots that the pain will not last for long. You can also assure them that you will do the best to lessen the pain by completing the process within a short moment and using a small size needle.

5.Using creams or the buzzy on the skin

Some types of topical creams can work as anesthetics that block the sensation of pain by the needle. Pharmacists know about the most common creams for the treatment of needle phobia. The buzzy is a personal pain relieving device developed a by a pediatrician. It works by overwhelming the nerves with buzzing and a cold sensation to prevent the user from feeling the pain that a needle causes as it passes through the skin to the vein. The buzzy now has a version for adults and a new version for kids. The latest for children resembles a bee, and it includes distraction cards.

Many people fear the needle and nurses or physicians should not condemn patients for their phobia. They should not ridicule the patients but instead, let them know that they should not be a cause of shame. It helps to reduce the phobia and make injections to be more manageable.