Fear of Blood!

Nurses General Nursing

Published

Hi,

I'm a hopeful nursing student, still doing my prep courses. I know I can make a compassionate nurse...my people skills are great, I'm bilingual and just would really love to be a nurse. However, I have a fear of blood, I actually fainted on my first day of Anatomy class because of a video that was shown. It was really graphic though so I'm not such a complete wuss. Nehow, I was wonder if any nurse out there or student can tell me how much blood is involved in the nursing program. I can handle inserting catheters and needles, but to deal with drawing blood is something different.

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I hate to be the first one to tell you, but if you're planning to be a bedside nurse, you can't avoid blood. You will have to draw it, give it, and clean it off the floor...and your shoes. Sooner or later, it's going to be a part of your life.

The good news is, you will be amazed how you can get over just about anything. I had a classmate who fainted watching a video delivering a baby. She got sick watching her first two live births, and we won't even go into C-sections. After graduation she took a job in high-risk L&D, and she's very, very good.

I couldn't stand sputum. It's still not my favorite thing, but suctioning had me close to gagging. Now, it's just a part of the job.

Experience and determination to "get over it" goes a long way toward helping.

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Specializes in ICU.

Unfortunately the blood does not always stay INSIDE the patient;) But you do become desensitized. If it is a true phobia though, I would speak to a psychologist to help you accelerate through the desensitization process otherwise just give it time.

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Specializes in Neurology, Neurosurgerical & Trauma ICU.
Originally posted by cyberkat

I couldn't stand sputum. It's still not my favorite thing, but suctioning had me close to gagging. Now, it's just a part of the job.

LOL I feel the same way about sputum! NOTHING is more disgusting than a fresh trach!

And cyberkat is right about getting over it. Just about everything in nursing is hard and usually disgusting the first couple of times you do it! Let's face it, ours is not a glamorous job! ;)

All of us have our issues. Learning to deal with them and getting past it is what's important.

Perhaps try to desensitize yourself by watching something like "Trauma, Life in the ER" on TLC or something else similar!If it never seems to get easier for you, then perhaps you should seek counseling for professional help....that is, if this is REALLY want you want to do.

Good luck and take care!

:kiss

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Specializes in Med-Surg, Trauma, Ortho, Neuro, Cardiac.

Lots of blood in starting IVs, drawing from central venous lines, etc. and most programs have an OR time where you might see blood there. Most of us "get over" the things that bug us as we are exposed to them more and more. The first time I had to clean up poop I nearly vomited. The first time I held an emesis basin while someone vomited, the same.

Good luck.

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You may go a long time without seeing any blood depending on your area and what is going on but you could just happen to see it often also. I would work on desenitizing as I think Gwenith suggested. I have had a couple of instances when there was more blood than any normal person wants to see and you do have to be able to deal with it. If you faint you become a Pt basically. Good Luck

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