Feeling faint from the fear of fainting

[kristina5491]

I am in my 3rd semester of Nursing School, my first semester I almost passed out watching a NG tube being put in, the nurse was so rough, I think that's what really got to me, I could feel it coming on and was able to step out and sit down. A second time was in OB when they were pulling the baby out, it was the same idea the doctor seemed so rough pulling on the head. A third time was observing a patient in the ICU with tubes coming out just about everywhere.

Everyone says that it is completely normal, that with more exposure I will become desensitized to it, but now it seems like things that didn't bother me when I first started the program are now bothering me. Today my friend called me because she was on her way to work and started feeling faint, so she pulled over and asked if I could bring her some water. Just thinking about her feeling faint I could feel myself feeling faint. This has never happened. Its like the idea of me possibly fainting makes me feel like I'm going to faint. I'm more anxious going to clinical each day in fear that I might faint, and I feel as though it is getting worse with exposure rather than better.

Does anyone has an advice for me? Any strategies?

[2bnurseDuties]

Hi there. It is your duty. Keyword being duty. For you to be fully vigilant ad a healthcare provider. To this end i suggest that you partake in a couple alcoholic beverages before your shift.

Kind regards,

NurseDuties

[RN403, BSN, RN]

Do you eat prior to your clinical experiences? I know that a few times that I felt faint it was r/t not eating properly before my clinical shift.

[jadelpn, LPN, EMT-B]

Make sure you are eating as you can before clinicals. Make sure you have in your pocket some sort of breakfast/granola bar. Anticipatory anxiety is also something that can be treated by a counselor. If it continues, you may want to think about it.

Get some SLEEP. Nursing school is an exhausting time. There's a lot of work that needs to be done, and I get that. However, even if you can take an hour for a nap prior to your studying, that is not a bad thing.

Stay as hydrated as you can.

Best wishes!

[dishes, BSN, RN]

Talk to your healthcare provider, it is not normal to feel faint when someone tells you they feel faint.

[Esme12, ASN, BSN, RN]

I am in my 3rd semester of Nursing School, my first semester I almost passed out watching a NG tube being put in, the nurse was so rough, I think that's what really got to me, I could feel it coming on and was able to step out and sit down. A second time was in OB when they were pulling the baby out, it was the same idea the doctor seemed so rough pulling on the head. A third time was observing a patient in the ICU with tubes coming out just about everywhere.

Everyone says that it is completely normal, that with more exposure I will become desensitized to it, but now it seems like things that didn't bother me when I first started the program are now bothering me. Today my friend called me because she was on her way to work and started feeling faint, so she pulled over and asked if I could bring her some water. Just thinking about her feeling faint I could feel myself feeling faint. This has never happened. Its like the idea of me possibly fainting makes me feel like I'm going to faint. I'm more anxious going to clinical each day in fear that I might faint, and I feel as though it is getting worse with exposure rather than better.

Does anyone has an advice for me? Any strategies?

Yes it is perfectly normal. But you sound as if you are having some anxiety issues. Talk with your PCP.

[Esme12, ASN, BSN, RN]

Hi there. It is your duty. Keyword being duty. For you to be fully vigilant ad a healthcare provider. To this end i suggest that you partake in a couple alcoholic beverages before your shift.

Kind regards,

NurseDuties

On another thread you indicated that you thought about becoming a nurse. It would be difficult for you to judge what is one's duty when you are not educated in the field.