[dodgerla]

Today was my 2nd day of clinicals, I'm a 1st semester student in a 4 semester program. Right before we left, the wound care nurse got us all to change a stage 4 pressure ulcer that had a wound vac. I had to leave the room, I got light headed. Is this ok? I leave my house at 5:30 in the morning and usually eat breakfast around 4:30ish, it was about noon when this happened and I didn't have anything in my system...could this by part of it. I didn't have a problem until she started pulling out the old dressing, I've see the wound vac before and I don't like it. Will I become desensitized to this stuff? It scares me, because this is my second degree and I'd hate to think that I made the wrong choice again. The rest of the day was great, my patient was in pain and really appreciated what I could do to help her and that was an awesome feeling. I was really upset on my hour drive home and am still a little upset that I had to leave the room, not only did I miss the dressing change, but I'm scared I can't handle it!

[ukstudent]

It does get better. You will be able to do this given enough exposure. Put a few protein bars in your pocket. If you eat breakfat around 4:30, then have one around 8 and another around noon. You are allowed to take 2 minute bathroom breaks, take 2 minutes to eat. You will do so much better during clinicals if you keep a stable glucose level.

[Suesquatch]

Oh, sweetie, of course it's okay.

The poster above has great advice. First, bring a banana or something easy to digest to eat at around eight. Secondly, there's nothing as tragic and grotesque as a stage IV decubitus. Don't beat yourself up for getting sick at your first sight of it.

I'm pretty good with gross stuff - I love it - but I've had classmates have to leave the room. In fact, I've had people TELL them to go lie down. And they were NOT looked down on for it. They were viewed as what they were - new to gore.

[dodgerla]

I'd never known myself to get that way with that kind of thing, so it was a little new to me. I guess I didn't know I'd react that way. It scared me a little, because I don't want to not be able to cut it. I know I'm probably being a little hard on myself, but what a worry to think I've worked to get here and I won't cut it.

[Suesquatch]

You get used to it. Really. And not everyone specializes in surgery and wound care.

[Daytonite]

Hopefully, you get de-sensized to this kind of thing. I suspect that the reason the nurse wanted you to see this wound change was because Stage 4 decubitus are not all that common these days. Most nursing homes get dinged pretty bad if they have a resident who develops one of these.

I guess we all have our "breaking points". Mine is seeing little pieces of brain tissue on the pillowcases after traumatic head injuries (gunshot wounds to the head). I still get nauseated every time I see something like that. I never could work on a full stomach anyway. Dry heaves are OK. Blowing chunks--not so good, so at least aim for a trash can. At least you're around people who understand and won't laugh at you.

[Kiringat]

Its OK!!! I think everyone gets sick at some point during 1st semester. I didn't eat for two days after my inserting my first NG tube.... Lets just say that I never believed the term "projectile vomit" was truly accurate until that day.
You'll get used to most stuff pretty quick, but there'll always be something that bothers you (thick, nasty, multicolored mucus) but just keep in mind that everyone has been there too.

[checkb]

If you get your energy up it is so much easier to deal with the gross stuff. Even those of us who have seen a lot of rot, decay and blown up bits of anatomy still retch and gag and have to leave the room sometimes. Picture me and a very seasoned CNA leaving a room gagging when we found maggots try to help a uroseptic man rid himself of infection where a maggot just should not be.

I still gag over sputum. I can just look at it in a collection cup and get the queasies.

[dodgerla]

Thanks, this makes me feel MUCH better. That was rough day of realization for me and I'm glad to hear everyone else's experiences with it also!!!

[smurfy]

also.. do not lock your knees. I do this with out realizing it and then become light headed and need to sit. I think I just get so involved that I forget to not lock my knees.