Can I be a nurse if I'm squeamish about medical sights?

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Hello Nurse Beth! I have seen lots of great advice on here and wanted to ask a question! I thought I wanted to do pediatric speech pathology forever(I am a high school senior) but recently have realized how much I love babies and have been interested in Land D or NICU nursing. I get pretty squeamish at medical sights. My mom is a nurse aswell and she says I can get through it. I just wanted to know if you had any advice for this? Thanks so much!

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Specializes in Tele, ICU, Staff Development.

It sounds like you are drawn to a career in caregiving fields such as nursing and speech therapy.

Most nurses are squeamish about various things, but it's something that can be managed rather than a barrier to being a nurse.

  • Gradual exposure. Desensitization happens over time. It might seem overwhelming initially, but it's amazing how much you adapt, especially when you focus on the babies and caring for them and their families.
  • Build your knowledge. Sometimes, squeamishness comes from feeling unsure about what you're seeing. The more you know about what's going on medically, the more your mental focus changes.
  • Mindset. Your mom's right—nursing is a lot about perspective. Many nurses find that their initial squeamishness fades once they focus on the big picture.
  • Hacks. We all find hacks for different situations, such as Vicks Vapo rub under your nose and mask for certain odors.

Talk to nurses in the field. Aside from your Mom, you might also want to talk to nurses who work in NICU or L&D to get a feel for their experiences. They've been where you are so that they can offer real-world advice.

It's great you're passionate about helping babies— it's incredibly rewarding. Best wishes on your next steps.

Nurse Beth

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