How to Overcome IV Anxiety ‘Injection Phobia’ can be extremely difficult for patients with long term health problems, particularly in those who have conditions which involve selfadministered IV medication such as diabetes or MS. In children, it can make minor medical appointments challenging at best and almost impossible at worst. In severely anxious patients, it can bring about problems with questions of consent to care, and even result in admission if the patient has a particularly severe vasovagal response to the administration. So, how can we manage patients with severe IV anxiety? Fortunately, there are a variety of methods, some of which we will explore here. Related: Top 5 Studying Mistakes Nursing Students Commit
Managing Breathing and Blood Pressure Patients who experience severe IV anxiety often associate it with episodes of high blood pressure, difficulty breathing and palpitations. They may feel sick, dizzy, and/or have ringing in their ears as a result of these symptoms. Although these responses are likely to be benign and will not have any lasting repercussions for the patient, they are extremely unpleasant and in some rare cases can lead to more severe issues such as myocardial infarction. It is estimated that around 37% of people who report injection phobia will experience these symptoms. Once they have been experienced once, it is likely that they will continue to pose a barrier for successful IV administration, so managing these symptoms successfully can make the experience easier for you as a nurse and less harrowing for your patient. Studies have shown that relaxation training is particularly successful in reducing these symptoms in IV anxiety. Controlled breathing techniques can help to reduce the likelihood of hyperventilation, which will in turn help to reduce associated symptoms.