Almost Fainting

Muffy5 · Apr 23, 2010

Oh most definitely! We all have our things we get a little weird about. I have had trouble with blood, only at certain times, and completely unexpectedly. It does get a little annoying, but you just have to talk yourself through it in your head. You were right in sitting down, you can excuse yourself and just grab a little juice or something. Now you know what one of your triggers are. I just kept exposing myself to the things that had made me uncomfortable, and I always handled the situation better the next time. You can do it! I bet if you ask some of your instructors, other nurses or other students you'll be surprised about the stuff that grosses them out!

SillyInScrubs · Apr 23, 2010

Totally normal! I had the same thing happen to me. I watched a seriously bloody AAA repair in the OR and was totally fine. Next day I was sitting in on a liver biopsy and next thing I knew I was out in the hallway sitting on a stretcher, with docs, nurses, and techs walking by and making comments like, "Ahh, I remember my first time fainting...". There wasn't even any blood. I dunno what my deal was.

If it happens again, just make sure you warn someone so they can catch you!

Zana2 · Apr 23, 2010

I haven't fainted so far, but from noticing the others, lack of breakfast, not moving for a period from one spot whilst staring at one fixed point under bright light are factors that contribute.

Don't lock your knees and keep moving on the spot.

Tell if you're prone to fainting, I'll keep an eye on you. if there's someone near you place your hand on their shoulder, we're quite good at sussing what's coming and hopefully you won't bang your head.

And don't worry, it can happen to anyone, it's not a problem.

LouisVRN, RN · Apr 23, 2010

The only time it happened to me I was pregnant, for the life of me I couldn't figure out what was wrong. It was my first semester of nursing school and I was helping a LTC resident eat an egg sandwich for breakfast.

dcarriv · Apr 23, 2010

you may have locked your knees back. next time you are watching a procedure, try shuffling your feet, remember to take deep breaths, and tell someone if you do feel like your going to faint. dont pass out on the pt. most staff wont give you any crap about fainting, just dont vomit. for that we will give you crap and tease you, playfully. good luck, it does happen to most people and usually during a procudure where you would not expect it.

klone, MSN, RN · Apr 23, 2010

When I was a student, the doctor had me get in between the woman's legs and deliver the placenta. Between all the blood, the hot lights, and locking my knees, the same thing happened. I just quickly excused myself, handed the umbilical cord back to the doctor, and went into the nurse's lounge to put my head between my knees. I've been working with him now for 5 years, and he STILL reminds me of that and laughs.

I see lots of family members (and once in a while, students) get woozy while watching an epidural placement. We had a dad go down on us, and he had to go down to the ER and ended up getting a CT. Missed his baby's birth, too.

hiddencatRN, BSN, RN · Apr 23, 2010

I started to feel woozy watching a circumcision. I made it through a c-section just fine, but I had to start watching my breathing, look away, pinch myself a bit, etc during the circ.

It happens. Don't be embarrassed! Something about that just got to you.

And always sit down once it starts to feel bad! You don't want to hit your head.

Emergency RN · Apr 23, 2010

I am a nursing student a little while ago I was watching a lumbar puncture procedure and I started to sweat, my ears were ringing, and I almost passed out. Fortunately, there was a chair in the room, and I quickly regained my composure, but I was so embarrassed. I have witnessed other worse procedures on patients, so I don't know why this happened this time. Did this happen to any of you? Will I get used to this?

You experienced the onset of PSYCHOGENIC SHOCK and had a near syncopal episode. Something about the procedure (what you were viewing, hearing, feeling, smelling, et cetera) at that moment, triggered an emotional response so great in you that it affected your nervous system and caused it to reflexively relax your blood vessels or slow your heart rate to the point that not enough blood was being perfused to your brain. You then experienced near syncope. Why you were able to tolerate previous procedures and not this particular one could be from a variety of reasons. One possibility could have been related to you not having enough reserve fluid volume on this occasion whilst you did on previous exposures to noxious events, so you had less vascular reserve to fall back on. So ensuring that one is well hydrated may help to preclude these events. Some people also reflexively vomit when experiencing unpleasant or extreme stimulus moments. Desensitization by repeated exposure to the noxious stimuli may also help to reduce subsequent reactions.

But, that said, some procedures are just natural gross outs or high "yuck" factor; everyone has their own, ahem... favorite.

Good luck.

HappydayRn · Apr 23, 2010

I have had near syncopal episodes (vasovagal in cause) multiple times. It occured during nursing school in LD, when I was in the OR, while charting in a room, in the med room. It happened once while at work and my charge had me go to the ER to be seen.

It's nothing to be embarassed about, it might have occured because of the procedure but there are other reasons for near syncopy.

It helps me to sit down put my head between my legs or lay down. Like other posters said keep moving your legs.

If it happens again though you might consider getting it checked out. Make sure you're eating and hydrating throughout the day and you can wear compression stockings to help keep the blood from pooling from standing for so long.

DroogieRN · Apr 23, 2010

During my first semester, the exact same thing happened to me, during the exact same procedure! :lol2: My instructor said someone goes down every semester. :dzed: It happens! Since then, I've seen many, many worse things and have been fine. Like others have said, don't lock your knees, concentrate on your breathing and make sure you're hydrated and have had a little protein.

Hang in there!

nurse2beme · Apr 23, 2010

My first time just SEEING staple in someone's knee I almost went down. I left the room, sat down, put my head between my knees and prayed I wouldn't pass out. I have been fine ever since.