Anyone faint their first day of clinical?

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Specializes in Critical Care.

Did anyone faint their first clinical day? My clinical instructor said she almost always has a new student faint the 1st or 2nd clinical. So much running around and they get dehydrated and then boom! Wouldn't you know it, about 7 hrs into my first 10 hr shift I felt dizzy, told my nurse who told me to go drink some cold water. I drank 2 cups and felt better but still not 100% (maybe 98%) but didn't want to miss anything or be thought of as weak so went back to shadowing my nurse. I didn't faint but now I'm worried it will happen the next time. Any suggestions? (we did have lunch that day). Do you think it was the power of suggestion or 1st day stress? :uhoh3:

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:( That's too bad. That didn't happen to me but during our 3rd week at a nursing home they were perming the ladies hair in their salon they have and the smell was going through the hall. I was getting over the flu and it was sooo hot in there. I felt like I was going to faint, so I turned all white and they were like "Abby, sit down quickly." I didn't faint but I was close. lol I hated the nursing home rotation.
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I never fainted but while on the floor I felt kinda flushed and dizzy. I told my teacher and she just laughed at me. Another student took my blood pressure and was practicing a head-to-toe assessment on me and my BP was like 80 something over 40 something. I felt naseated and hot. I later found out that I was pregnant (what a suprise)

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Specializes in OB, NP, Nurse Educator.

I have had many students faint on the first day of clinical! (And I never laugh at them).

My advice is to eat a good breakfast with some protein, drink plenty of fluid, and do not stand with your legs "locked" or stick straight. If you do get dizzy sit down on the floor asap - sitting down is way better than falling down.

Good luck!

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Specializes in ER, OB.

My first day working as a CNA at a nursing home I almost fainted. I hadn't ate breakfast b/c I was nervous and I was running around trying to find the people I was supposed to give showers to. I was giving a shower and felt really dizzy, I sat down and felt a little better. I got another CNA to help me get the guy into his wheelchair so I wouldn't let him fall. That would be embarassing....hey Mr. Jones can you call a nurse I feel like I am going to pass out. LOL

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My first day working as a CNA at a nursing home I almost fainted. I hadn't ate breakfast b/c I was nervous and I was running around trying to find the people I was supposed to give showers to. I was giving a shower and felt really dizzy, I sat down and felt a little better. I got another CNA to help me get the guy into his wheelchair so I wouldn't let him fall. That would be embarassing....hey Mr. Jones can you call a nurse I feel like I am going to pass out. LOL

Don't feel bad. I start NS in the Fall and if that happen to me I would be OK with that. This is new adventure and sh*t happens, but it kinda funny

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Specializes in Neuro.

I've *almost* fainted twice in clinicals. I think it was mostly stress and nerves. I try to carry a snack like cheese and crackers in my pocket to munch on throughout the day (I'm hypoglycemic anyway) and drink lots of water. It's really embarrassing, I agree.

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Specializes in ICU.

My first day of clinical in an acute setting ended before I set foot in the hospital.

I woke up at 0700, and was feeling a bit odd. Trying to be positive, I made breakfast and did all the normal stuff, when at about

0745, on the drive in, my face went numb. Never a good sign, I knew what would follow.

Cue arriving at the front entrance, with my other classmates, instructor inside (she was my favourite teacher, who elected to instruct for us for the placement), and the first words out of one of my friends mouths was "gee, you're a bit pale!".

Look in the glass, and it's like a ghost. Meanwhile, my head is starting the inevitable slide into a massive migraine, and I'm standing there, slowly swaying in the breeze trying to keep myself, myself. as all you migraine sufferers can appreciate.

As I'm doing that, my left eye starts going blurry, and my instructor comes out to greet us, does a once over on us, gets to me, cocks her head and raises an eyebrow. One of the other students pipes up that I'm not feeling well, and she nods, tells me where I'll be the next day of placement, sends me home.

And that, was the shortest day of placement, so far.

Happy to say that was the start of the best placement so far, though.

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I felt like I was going to faint when I was watching an epidural being inserted. The room got all yellow and weird and I immediately went out the room and slid down the wall and sat there until it was over. No one made fun of me, even my best friends. (I kind of expected them to ride me just a little!) The instructor was very symapthetic, too, but did not fuss over me, either. I appreciated being kind of left alone about it so I was not as embarrassed. I am normally not squeemish about things and it surprised me that I had this reaction. That was the one and only time.

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