Am I normal?

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I'm a pre-nursing student in my last semester before nursing school and I'm having issues figuring out if I can actually be a nurse. I'm scared to get into a program after changing schools and moving to a new location that I won't be able to do it....

My real issue stems from I'm currently in a physiology class and I've been able to do all the classes (including anatomy which uses cadavers) but this class has sparked some huge fears in my heart. I've always thought I was supposed to be a nurse and now that I'm unsure I don't even know what to do. I'm able to disect all sorts of dead animals/cadavers/organs/etc. But we've had 2 labs that involved working on living animals and both times I've come so close to passing out that I had to leave the room and basically not watch the procedures. Neither lab involved blood or anything truly gross and I never felt sick, it just made me get lightheaded. Is this normal and is it something that I can get "used" to and pass through or should I look into changing my major?

I honestly think this is perfectly normal. I always felt lightheaded everytime I saw a new invasive procedure, but the second time I was fine. I never was able to dissect animals, I always let my lab partner do the cutting. You will be fine, especially since you care so much to be worried.

Good luck,

icesk8ie

...and you want to be normal?

Specializes in Med-Surg, Geriatric, Behavioral Health.

You are normal and you'll be OK.

Yes, you are normal, and you'll be fine. I used to not be able to enter hospitals cause the smells would make me lightheaded and queasy. Once I actually started the program I was O.K. Now been in nursing over 30 years!I do like zenman's answer though. :chuckle

Specializes in Education, Acute, Med/Surg, Tele, etc.

Being very careful of what field of nursing will be your niche is very important! But you are very normal!

But funny story to help you out!

When I was in High school, I went to a class on advanced marine biology offered at a local college. Now we had gotten permission to discect a still born whale that was found on the coast that week, and the smell would bowl you over! We wore masks and got to work! It was very facinating! That didn't bother me what so ever because I was too interested. But then, some college students wanted to play a joke on us, and oh boy did they get me!

They wheeled in some cadavers and laid sheets on them so we really didn't know what they were. The students said that they had gotten a few Sea lions for us to discect as well...and we were stoked! I pulled off the sheet, being the most eager...and BOOM I hit the floor out like a light! The shock of seeing my first dead body and not knowing it was going to be there...well...guess my brain went tilt!

The students I guess laughed a bit then were very upset and what they had done to me. They took me outside for fresh air, and I cryed so hard!!!! "If I can't even handle this, how do I expect to ever continue Vet school (wanted to be a vet!)". My sobs really saddened them and they explained that it was the shock, not the body that got me, and they took me in and I was okay at that point. NO probelms after that which helped, and they even had me go the next day to their lab to discect the cadavers if I wanted to...I declined then..wished I hadn't because we never did cadavers in my college!

But I still remember how down I was..how heartbroken and confused I was at that moment! How can I go on with my dreams, am I not cut out for this??? But the entire irony of the story...my thoughts at the time..well don't work with humans! LOL!!!!!!!!! Guess I was able to do it after all huh? (I still wished I had picked vet though! LOL!)... Give it time, and don't fret that much...you get use to things over time :) And who knows...it could be a foundation to paths you least expected ;).

Specializes in ER/Trauma.

My head of the Department of Nursing swears that she is still "afraid" of needles :-)

So yep. There's all kinds of us in this field. But like TriageRN said :: "Being very careful of what field of nursing will be your niche is very important"

Nursing is a HUGE field. There's lots of opportunities to be a Nurse and not have to face invasive proceedures ....

If this is any comfort, I am grossed out by suctioning pts on vents. I can't stand the sound.

You are not alone. :)

Thanks so much, I dont feel as stressed. It's good to know that I'm not alone! Thanks again!

If it was easy then every one would do it.....besides normal is boring.

I paid good money to a therapist for this advice so I share it freely. "Normal is a cycle on a dishwasher". Everyone reacts differently. Don't worry if you get grossed out. I get grossed out at any form of SNOT but can handle feces with no problem. I'd rather do the cath thing then take an NG tube out ANY DAY. We're all different.

Panicked at the thought of hurting a helpless living creature? It's called a conscience. Compassion. Empathy. All these things will serve you well in life in general and especially in nursing. I'd worry about you if you didn't feel that way.

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