I think I can, I think I can, I knew I could!

I had a really exciting experience at work yesterday. I accessed two implantable ports for the first time and was successful with both! This probably does not seem like a big deal to most people, but it was huge for me! I had never accessed a port or even practiced on a fake one. A port is a device that is placed under the skin (usually in the upper chest). To access it, you insert a long, thick needle with wings at the end of it (called a huber needle) through the skin and into the middle of the port (see picture below). The port is kind of like a rubber stopper that the needle goes into. A needle can stay in the port for up to a week before needing to be changed. I also got to de-access a port yesterday (pull the needle out).


The first port I accessed was on a 2 year old and he was crying and very squirmy. I was VERY nervous that I would not get it on the first try. It also broke my heart that I had to put such a big needle into this little one's chest. However, I knew he needed it. I realized that there was no time to hesitate and I just went for it. I got it on the first try! The 2nd port was on an older patient. This patient's port was deeper and under lots of tissue. It was hard to feel through the skin and I was worried that I wouldn't get the needle right in the middle because I couldn't feel it very well. But I got that one on the first try as well! It was a very big confidence builder for me and made for a very exciting day!