A fear of needles is not uncommon in patients, and nurses often have the unfortunate task of being the one to administer shots. This fear is known as Trypanophobia. It helps to put a nervous or scared patient at ease before doing an injection to reduce their anxiety and to make your job easier. Show compassion and be understanding of their phobia, and recognize that it is legitimate. Take the time to educate them on the injection that they’re about to receive and to explain how it will feel. Let them know that it will be quick and that you’ll make it as comfortable as possible. While you may not be able to help rid them of their fear altogether, you can make the experience much more tolerable for a needle-phobic patient.
