scared about passing out!!

hypnotic_nurse · Aug 4, 2004

If you are really afraid you will pass out here are some things you can try:

Sit to watch the procedure.

If you must stand, lean against the wall and make sure your knees are not locked -- bend them slightly.

Do deep breathing exercises while watching.

Close your eyes for a moment if it is too intense.

Carry a damp cloth or a cup with ice and put that against your forehead while watching...if you start to feel hot or faint, leave, take some deep breaths, and come back and watch some more.

Start with smaller things like blood draws.

Visualize the procedure in advance -- even if you only have 10 minutes before it starts, sit down and imagine what you will see (even if you are not sure, you can make it up), in as gory detail as possible. Imagine at the same time that you are calm, cool, and collected.

Try one or more of these and see how that works for you. :)

nurses4all · Aug 4, 2004

I'd probably pass out watching that too, katie!

:uhoh3:

But that problem doesn't mean you won't make a great nurse. I hated getting IVs, for instance, so I made a vow to learn to give them as painlessly as possible. It took time, but I'm now the nurse that my coworkers come to when they have a hard stick.

If you can just keep your thoughts on the benefit that a correctly done procedure will have for the patient, that might help.

Good luck.

PS I had a classmate who passed out during an epidural placement, but that was the only time it ever happened to her. So it might be just a one-time occurrence for you too.

futurenrskatie · Aug 4, 2004

thank you nurses4all and hypnotic nurse for your words of encouragement and advice--I have taken them to heart and hope my drive and desire to do this will carry me through!:)

I'd probably pass out watching that too, katie!
But that problem doesn't mean you won't make a great nurse. I hated getting IVs, for instance, so I made a vow to learn to give them as painlessly as possible. It took time, but I'm now the nurse that my coworkers come to when they have a hard stick.
If you can just keep your thoughts on the benefit that a correctly done procedure will have for the patient, that might help.
Good luck.
PS I had a classmate who passed out during an epidural placement, but that was the only time it ever happened to her. So it might be just a one-time occurrence for you too.

eak16 · Aug 4, 2004

I am thrilled to have been accepted to nursing school and feel confident in my academic ability; however, the initial clinicals put me into a cold sweat! In doing peds oncology research a year ago, I passed out and hit the floor while trying to watch a spinal tap on a 13-year-old. I'm so nervous that I will faint while trying to watch another procedure! I know I need to watch, watch, watch to learn, but how do I get over this initial roadblock? Does anyone have any secrets or advice? Did anyone else fear passing out and embarassing themselves? I want to be a nurse so badly and loved working with the peds patients--I just couldn't watch them get any procedures done! I can't bear to be "that girl!" Please advise. :chair:

the problem might not be that you are squeamish at all- once after i almost passed out in clinicals I took my blood sugar and i was hypoglycemic. i had to get up so early that morning that I just wasn't hungry and ended up not eating breakfast. Make sure you are eating and drinking enough, not locking your knees, and try to wear clothes that breath (hard, I know, with student uniforms). if you do have to leave to keep from passing out, just discreetly say "I dont want you to have me as a paitent too- I need to get some air", I found this usually met with a cooperative reply. Good luck!

NewEastCoastRN · Aug 4, 2004

When I was a student I almost passed out while watching a colonoscopy. It just came out of nowhere, but I was able to get myself together by sitting down and taking deep breaths. I haven't had any of those episodes since. So maybe it was just a 1-time occurrence! Follow the advice given above, and you should be fine. :)