Nancy The Needler Strikes Again!
BLOOD DONATION, JERK, USA | HEALTHY | MARCH 4, 2020
(While I am very squeamish about needles, I like to give blood often because I am a universal donor. I have family that have needed transfusions, so I like to donate in honor of the people who have helped them. Volunteers are usually very nice and ease my needle anxiety throughout the process. Not this time, though.)
Volunteer: “Lay down here.”
Me: “Okay. Just so you know, I’m kind of scared of needles. It would really help if you could just count down before you prick me.”
Volunteer: “No. I’m not doing that. Lay down.”
Me: *getting nervous now* “Wait. Why can’t you just count down to let me know when you’re putting the needle in?”
Volunteer: “You’re a big girl; suck it up.”
(She grabs my arm and quickly uses a wipe to disinfect the area. I’m a wreck, so I jump when she does this, even though I’m not in pain. I’m just so anxious about this needle now.)
Volunteer: “You can’t jump like that when I put the needle in! I’ll have to do it over if you jump like that!”
Me: “I won’t jump if you just count down or let me know when you’re putting it in!”
(I’m shaking at this point and close to hyperventilating.)
Volunteer: “What’s the point of giving blood if you’re going to be so jumpy?!”
(Eventually, I calm down enough for her to prick my arm quickly. A few months later, I’m giving blood again and am relaying this story to another volunteer, who was kind enough to count down before putting the needle in.)
Nice Volunteer: “Was she skinny, tall, dark hair…?”
Me: “Yes! That was her!”
Nice Volunteer: “Oh, that was Nancy. We got a lot of complaints about her. She doesn’t come to blood drives anymore”
(Thankfully, I never saw her again.)
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