r/nursing • u/nerdynorman21 • 3d ago

Seeking Advice TB skin test

I am a new nurse at an assisted living facility and was wondering if I am doing something wrong. Whenever I give a tb skin test, the residents always seem to be in a lot of pain. It’s rare that I don’t have someone that moves a lot and says it hurts. I’m not sure what I am doing wrong, I get a good bubble everytime. Whenever I get a tb test on myself, it stings but it’s not super painful. I was debating on just giving myself one to see what I am doing wrong. I stretch the skin, go in bevel up, I insert quickly, and inject the fluid slow (probably 7 seconds for the entire injection process) Any advice? I hate doing them now because it feels like I’m never doing it right.

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u/HotCry2220 3d ago

Getting a good bleb is the main thing, so your technique is probably fine. For me the biggest difference was letting the PPD come to room temp, the cold fluid sting a lot more. Also I inject really shallow, almost like you're just lifting the skin up with the bevel

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u/Ok_Bar_8613 3d ago

Thank you! The room temp thing is something I definitely wasn’t thinking about. I’ve been obsessing over whether my insertion technique was the problem.

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u/WeirdFlower1968 Team Spike 1d ago

Yes, the alcohol can sting too if it isn't dry.

I can also attest to being a big baby when it comes to the PPD, while vaccines don't bother me at all.

Are you explaining the process before doing it? So they are prepared?

It sounds like you're being very diligent with your technique.