My appreciation for the nursing profession grows

Well, I thought I was really on a roll. I can do my own injections. I am all powerful. It isn't rocket science. Wait, maybe it is. Rocket Science. Maybe it does take a special talent, a certain knack. Maybe there is a reason I was always the last person picked for the softball team. Hmmmm....


My Morning.


I rolled out of bed a little later than usual this morning. I also went to bed a little late last night. I was trying to finish a book and Sonia was working so hard on her project I felt like I'd like to stay up with her if I could. But I didn't. Still, I got a good night's sleep. But when I woke up it was about the time I usually have my injection. So I skipped downstairs, pulled a vial from the refrigerator and carefully laid out my equipment. Now, I want to say at this point that I wasn't hurrying, I wasn't nervous and I had the instructions in front of me the whole time. I always just read the instructions as I go along because I know how easy it is, once you are comfortable doing something, to inadvertently skip a step. So, I began by preparing the needle. And I bent it. Sigh! I put it in my sharps container and got out a new one. Very carefully now I continued by pulling the Neupogen into the needle. Oops, a little bit of air and not all the medication. Re inject into vial (no, I hadn't pulled the needle out of the vial yet) and then carefully, carefully I pull the plunger out and suck the meds in....and I pull the plunger out too far and some of the Neupogen drips onto my work surface. Yikes. This is expensive stuff! I can't just go down and ask for a new vial. Oh, my gosh, what have I done? Well, I try to remain calm. No, I do remain calm and continue with the routine. I realize that little drips look like a lot of liquid and there is just about the right amount in the needle. So I continue and inject myself. No pain. No fainting. No more of this. I'm going back to my professional staff. I need at least one more set of hands to work with that needle. I thought I would grow proficient with practice but apparently this is not the case. Sigh.