Do You Ever Get Dizzy/Faint When Working Days?

[NewGradRN114]

I was scheduled to work a day shift this week and when I woke up in the morning I started feeling nauseous, dizzy, lightheaded, I had cold sweats and ringing in my ears. I tried to go sit down but I wasn't fast enough and I fainted. I woke up on the floor and I had hit my head pretty hard. It took a couple of minutes to reorient myself and figure out what happened. I was pale, weak and tired after so I decided to call in sick but I feel guilty because I called in at 0530 and I don't work a lot of shifts to begin with because I am part time. This was my first time calling in sick but not the first time I've felt lightheaded or dizzy in the morning. I went to the doctor and he said it sounds like a typical fainting episode and he sent me for bloodwork. I was wondering if this has happened to anyone else and if anyone else ever feels guilty for calling in sick.

[blondy2061h, MSN, RN]

Well that's certainly not normal, so it sounds like you did the right thing calling in and going to the doctor.

[Been there,done that, ASN, RN]

It is against TOS to give medical advice. Good to hear you have sought professional advice.

As far as feeling guilty for calling out.. knock it off. You were in no shape to perform your duties.

Best of luck. Be well.

[Sour Lemon]

I was scheduled to work a day shift this week and when I woke up in the morning I started feeling nauseous, dizzy, lightheaded, I had cold sweats and ringing in my ears. I tried to go sit down but I wasn't fast enough and I fainted. I woke up on the floor and I had hit my head pretty hard. It took a couple of minutes to reorient myself and figure out what happened. I was pale, weak and tired after so I decided to call in sick but I feel guilty because I called in at 0530 and I don't work a lot of shifts to begin with because I am part time. This was my first time calling in sick but not the first time I've felt lightheaded or dizzy in the morning. I went to the doctor and he said it sounds like a typical fainting episode and he sent me for bloodwork. I was wondering if this has happened to anyone else and if anyone else ever feels guilty for calling in sick.

I get weak, nauseous, sweaty and dizzy every time I have to orient during the day for a new night shift job. I've never fainted, though ...I always excuse myself and go sit down for a few minutes before it gets to that point.

[Horseshoe, BSN, RN]

I used to get light headed and nauseated every night shift at about 2 or 3 am. I never fainted or felt incapable of delivering care. Once I went to day shift, I was good.

I hope you are feeling better and that your doctor can figure out what's happening. It's good that he is not just assuming day shift was the problem and is going to rule out other causes. Hopefully it's nothing serious.

Good luck.

[Sour Lemon]

I get weak, nauseous, sweaty and dizzy every time I have to orient during the day for a new night shift job. I've never fainted, though ...I always excuse myself and go sit down for a few minutes before it gets to that point.

I had to complete an accucheck check-off for one job (when I was feeling dizzy/nauseous) and used myself as the subject. My blood sugar was in the low 60s. I'm not diabetic, either. I tried to eat smaller, less carb intense meals more frequently after that and it seemed to help, but who knows if that was the actual reason I was feeling sick. I had eaten pancakes alone for breakfast on that particular day ...probably not the best choice.