Therapeutic stabbing

I just did my first arterial blood gas draw! It's the thing about firsts, about being a beginner at everything: I want to be able to do it, but I don't want to do it before I know I can. And I don't know, the ABG is so built up to be difficult and painful. I just watched a Hopkins episode where the third year couldn't get it drawn, and the patient was all pissed off. So that was looming in my mind as the needle was poised... Now it's demystified. But the attending was an awesome, understanding teacher, which makes such a big difference. I love that he threw me in there but saw it through with me. Insert sigh of relief here. I'm glad I didn't have any coffee beforehand a) so that I didn't shake more than I already was and b) now I'm totally awake. On to the rest of my morning.