Anyone ever pass out at work....I just did :'(

Undecided7 · Jan 12, 2006

I did pass out at work a couple years ago. My concerned charge nurse called a CODE when she saw me collapse. I woke up to see about 20 people- lifting up my scrubs to put monitor leads on. :imbar They really couldn't figure it out in ER so I had to see a neurologist. After many tests, they never did figure it out- it was just a freak thing. However, I had my license (driving) suspended for 3 months. Apparently it's some state law that if you pass out or have a seizure you can't drive until you have been symptom free for 3 months.

Aneroo, LPN · Jan 12, 2006

I almost have. Luckily, I was in orientation and my preceptor was in the room. I just quietly said "I need to go sit down, now." and walked out. I think she realized I wasn't feeling good (she knew I was pregnant).

Glad your co-workers were right there! Must have been incredibly scary for them as well! Feel better soon.

TexasPediRN · Jan 12, 2006

I've yet to pass out at work, but I've passed out in high school (Right on my french teacher who was concerned about me and brought me to the nurses herself! I never made it there before hitting the floor.), as well as almost during a clinical rotation during school.

Like Undecided7- they never did figure it out. Had blood work at stuff when it occured in high school- nothing when it happened in college the second time in college.

I do know that my blood sugar wasnt low, I'm not diabetic- and I was eating lunch when the 2nd episode happened. I got nauseous, diaphoretic to the point where I get soaked, and was pale. I also get to the point where everything I see is black- like when you get up way to fast. It goes away quickly. Within 5 to 10 minutes its over.

My friend was with me and I think I kind of freaked her out.

I did get labs drawn and a 24hr holter monitor that was benign done last year, just because I was getting dizzy and lightheaded again, this time during orientation at work when the same senario happened. Everything was completely normal.

Next time you feel this way- sit down!! I need to put my head down as well when this occurs.

Good luck :) At least you were around some caring nurses!

froghair · Jan 12, 2006

i almost did about 10 years ago. i was working a night duty and that day i had spent moving house so there was a heap of packing and unpacking and no sleep. i was emptying a catheter bag on a guy who had a bladder irrigation and it was almost the end of me. i must of been as pale as and one of the other div 1 pulled a chair up behind me and i hit that instead of the floor

MMARN, BSN, RN · Jan 12, 2006

I hope you feel better. I hope they figure out what was going on. God bless.

nurse_wannabe · Jan 12, 2006

Could you be having panic attacks?

What you have described is very similar to what I experience. First of all, my stomach begins to hurt and I get very queasy all of a sudden. Then, the cold sweats hit and I feel even worse. My vision gets black and fuzzy around the edges, and I can hear things, but it sounds like it's coming through a barrell. I feel dizzy. I have to try very hard to speak, and then it is slow and slurred. At this point I am sure I'm going to die.

While I've never actually passed out from a panic attack, I surely feel like I'm going to.

Just something to ponder.

Multicollinearity, BSN, RN · Jan 12, 2006

I have had syncope so many times it doesn't even upset me anymore. My normal BP is 90/60. Add to that my hypoglycemia...and well I pass out occasionally if I'm not hydrated or taking care of my BS. The last time I said my BS was off, we did a finger stick, then a lab draw and it was 30. I was conversational, active, just clammy and 'feeling funny'. After getting a BS of 30 while arguing with the doc who wasn't taking me seriously...let's just say a BS of 30 got his attention. :rotfl:

When the 'black dots' start coming on I just eeeeeeease on down to the floor rather than SMACK...hitting the floor.

I hope they find the cause of your syncope.

Were you dehydrated/hungry/fatigued the day you passed out?

YoungWiseWoman · Jan 12, 2006

Gosh Snoop, that sounds really scary. I'm glad you are doing ok. I passed out twice when I was younger, but I think it was because my blood glucose was VERY low.

Please take care of yourself. Don't rush back to work so soon. Get some rest so your body can rebuild. Hopefully this will be your only time have this experience. :) Ketcia:)

CseMgr1, ASN, RN · Jan 12, 2006

I did, when I was 6-1/2 months pregnant with my son. I was working days, and was in the med room getting ready to pass morning meds, when everything suddenly began spinning. I turned around, and bracing myself in the doorway, announced to everyone in the Nurses' Station: "I'm dizzy..."The next thing I knew, I was semi-conscious and was vaguely aware of being half-carried, half-dragged by the Charge Nurse and another nurse into the Nurses' Lounge. They laid me down on the sofa and someone stayed with me, while someone else ran to get a B/P cuff and the Charge Nurse went back to the Station and called my husband at work. I don't remember what my B/P was, but do recall how tired I was all of a sudden and just wanted to go home and go to bed. My husband picked me up, took me home and put me to bed. "Want me to stay with you?", he offered, looking and sounding really worried about me. "No, I just want to go to sleep", I replied. "I'll be OK". The last thing I remember was him kissing me good-bye before he left to go back to work, and I was out like a light. I slept ALL day! As it turned out, I was scheduled off for my monthly OB checkup the following day. My doctor looked down at me over his glasses after he finished checking me out and the labs came back, observing dryly:"No wonder you feel like s---". My HCT was down to 27%. A very nice case of Physiological Anemia. He not only doubled up on my iron supplements (TWICE the nausea), but also ordered me to stop working full-time. My co-workers were very sweet and concerned when I returned to work the next day, and the DON immediately changed my schedule to Part-Time. "I knew it was just a matter of time", she told me good-naturedly. Then, in a more serious tone, she added: "You need to stop working altogether". A couple of weeks later, the day shift staff surprised me after work one day with a a Baby Shower. "We didn't know how much longer you were going to be able to work", one of the organizing nurses laughed, "so we decided to go ahead and do it".

A month later, I was out on early Maternity Leave on my doctor's orders. It couldn't have come SOON enough!

Bipley · Jan 12, 2006

Not at work but while getting my hair done once. There was a place in a snooty section of town where a guy worked that I had heard good things about.

Just a the day before I had been stung by a scorpion. Turns out, I was allergic to their stings and I had a rough few days. I decided that was a good time to pamper myself. Went to the snooty place, you know... where you drink champagne while they do your hair. I declined the champagne, just didn't feel like it. I was sitting under the dryer not feeling well and decided to hunt down a glass of water.

Stood up to find water and the next thing I know Mrs. Spiegel (Spiegal Catalogs??) was kneeling on the floor patting me furiously asking me if I was okay.

Of course, my sun dress was covering my shoulders and that's about all, crowded beauty shop... I still feel my face flush when I think of that day. And THAT was less embarrassing than the day before when I was actually stung. Sheesh... my life is one huge embarrassing moment sometimes.

ortess1971 · Jan 12, 2006

Actually, I almost passed out tonight at work! One of our ENT docs brought a guy to the OR for a nosebleed that wouldn't stop. I have been trying to watch my diet but I don't think I ate enough for lunch because dinner was delayed. It took her(the doc) a long time to control the bleeding(1 and a half hours) and I think my blood sugar was falling because I started getting clammy, dizzy, shaky and the edges of my vision were going black. I sat down for a while and the case finished about 10 minutes later-I then got something to eat.:uhoh21: