Faint of heart

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Hi, I would like to know if someone here has been faint of heart when they began working as a nurse and if that was an obstacle for being a nurse. And can someone grow out of it with time? I am asking because I want to become a nurse someday, but today there was an incident that made me doubt myself. Today my husband was working on our house and accidentaly almost broke his arm. When I knew what happened, my heart was hurting (for him, of course, didn't want anything bad happening to him, like to go through surgery if his arm was broken), had a slight headache, and wanted to throw up. At first, I didn't want to see his arm because I was afraid (don't really know why, perhaps I was afraid it was really broken and needed surgery. Oh, I forgot to mention we both are out of work and don't have any insurance, I guess that has something to do too). But after a while I was able to recover and helped him put some dressings on his arm. We both are hoping it is not really broken as we can't afford an x ray or go the the hospital(anyway I know this is out of the context, sorry) My husband knows I want to become a nurse but after seeing my reaction today he told me no way he is going to let go to school and waste my time and money. I truly don't know for sure if I am faint of heart or I was scare for him and the bills. Any advise?

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Specializes in CCU MICU Rapid Response.

At work I am superhuman.. blood guts bones poo whatever... at home, if I see the tiniest of scrapes on anyone I love, I become a blob of jello.

I have learned if I think too much about the patient and if they are afraid or hurting, that the blood will drain from my head and I will go down. Now, I do what needs to be done first, in the moment, and soothe the pain and worry afterward. No more light headedness for me.

It's okay, you are human, and not the only gal that has felt that way. Chin up :) Ivanna

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Specializes in Gerontology, nursing education.

I've done dressings on dehisced abdominal wounds that were so deep, the fascia was exposed. And yet I freaked out when my older son was four and had a tick on his belly.

You will be okay. :)

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Specializes in Peds general and ICU/Comm. Disease RN.

I completely agree with previous posts.......you cannot toss out hopes of becoming a Nurse based on one experience at home. Totally different when you are at work, dealing with patients vs. dealing with stuff at home. I have been a RN for over 19 years.....yet.....I feel like a dummy when my kids get sick, injured, etc.......

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Things at the hospital don't bother me, but loved ones at home... I can't handle it!

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OMG! thank you guys! reading these posts made smile and gave me hopes. I will tell this to my husband to let him know that it was ok what I felt today. That was what I thought at first, that I felt that way because he is my husband, of course, that doesn't mean I won't feel compasion for strangers but when it is someone you love even if you are a doctor you'll panic. I will keep nursing in my mind until I get there.:)

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I'm not a nurse yet, but I think what you're hearing here is true. My mom's a nurse practitioner who worked as an RN in the ICU for years and years. When I was a teenager, I had my tonsils out. She was there in the recovery room as I was waking up. I started coughing and blood splattered the inside of my oxygen mask. My mom FREAKED out!

When I was more coherent, I asked her why in the world she, of all people, got so worked up over a little bit of blood. Her response was simply "because that was MY baby!" Professional detachment doesn't apply to your own loved ones.

If you're still unsure of your ability to handle the "icky" side of nursing, see if you can shadow a nurse for a while before starting into nursing school.

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redessa, thanks for your reply. Shadowing a nurse sounds like a great idea, but how can I do that?

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redessa, thanks for your reply. Shadowing a nurse sounds like a great idea, but how can I do that?

Contact some local hospitals to see if they allow it. ^^

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this is why you dont have your own family as patients....

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Specializes in Acute Care, Rehab, Palliative.

I think that when it comes to our loved ones we are not operating in "nurse" mode. I can handle a patient in distress but 2 years ago when my daughter had a vaso vagal response at home I came completely unglued. You have no reason to believe you can't become a nurse.

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I used to be an ICU nurse. I could handle seeing my patients intubated, restrained, sedated, hooked up to the monitor, foley, art line, chest tubes, etc.

However, when my Grandpa was in the cardiovascular ICU, I went to visit him in my scrubs and become completely unglued. I cried like a baby. He was on a vent, sedated with propofol, in restraints, had an art line, foley, and hooked up to every monitor known to man. Although I KNEW he was stable, it is something totally different when it's your family member.

You will be just fine. Continue to pursue nursing.

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