Getting Past Squeamish Feeling

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I volunteer in an ER which provides me the opportunity to watch a ton of procedures but I haven't yet witnessed too many major traumas. A while back a man presented to the ER with some fingers half "degloved" (skin peeled back from top half of a few fingers and hanging with bone exposed). The bone structure was still intact. I figured this would be an awesome chance to step in and watch the stitching procedure.

Things like this typically do not bother me. I work as a CNA in an SNF so I'm no stranger to body excretions or other less pleasant aspects that come with the job. Anyways, so I'm sitting there watching the procedure as the doc injects the numbing agent and I can see the skin flaps and bone structure under the skin and a small artery squirting. All the while the patient is screaming and squirming from the needle sticks in to the exposed flesh. I began to feel a little light headed, skin turned a little pale, and began a cold sweat. This unpleasant feeling lasted for a few minutes and I stuck it out through the whole procedure. I felt squeamish throughout the entire procedure but I stuck it out because I want to learn.

I've never had any issues like this and I'm wondering if this is normal? Can a person become accustomed to traumas?

If you've ever experienced a situation like this please share how you overcame these types of squeamish situations.

I actually would like to know as well.. I plan on becoming a NP but it's not blood per say that freaks me out but rather stitches or exposed flesh or visible broken bones. I can't see myself in any other occupation but will I get used to it eventually ?

I volunteer in an ER which provides me the opportunity to watch a ton of procedures but I haven't yet witnessed too many major traumas. A while back a man presented to the ER with some fingers half "degloved" (skin peeled back from top half of a few fingers and hanging with bone exposed). The bone structure was still intact. I figured this would be an awesome chance to step in and watch the stitching procedure.

Things like this typically do not bother me. I work as a CNA in an SNF so I'm no stranger to body excretions or other less pleasant aspects that come with the job. Anyways, so I'm sitting there watching the procedure as the doc injects the numbing agent and I can see the skin flaps and bone structure under the skin and a small artery squirting. All the while the patient is screaming and squirming from the needle sticks in to the exposed flesh. I began to feel a little light headed, skin turned a little pale, and began a cold sweat. This unpleasant feeling lasted for a few minutes and I stuck it out through the whole procedure. I felt squeamish throughout the entire procedure but I stuck it out because I want to learn.

I've never had any issues like this and I'm wondering if this is normal? Can a person become accustomed to traumas?

If you've ever experienced a situation like this please share how you overcame these types of squeamish situations.

I too experience this when I see injuries and such. I really hope that it doesn't prevent me from doing my job.

I think a person can become accustomed to seeing traumas with experience. It's not every day where you see exposed bones and arteries and I think it's natural to feel a bit weird about it, especially when the person experiencing this is obviously in pain and scared. With that being said, I have only seen a few minor injuries during my stint at an urgent care facility and no, I'm not accustomed to seeing these situations. I think (for me) that the reason why I experience this unpleasant feeling is because I feel really for the person. I think it's a natural part of being human.

Specializes in Hospice.

Maybe if you can find some episodes of "Trauma: Life in the ER", it will get you accustomed to seeing some real trauma. I know it's only a TV show but they don't blur out anything. It's my favorite show. Trauma is my calling in nursing, I hope I get to work it some day!

To be honest, I know this sounds a little weird, but I have never been too squeamish. I love horror movies, can watch gore without blinking, etc. The only time I have EVER been squeamish was when we were going over self harm in class. I honestly have no idea why, but when my instructor was going over the different types of self harm and detailing them, I almost passed out!

I think that through exposure you eventually get used to seeing unpleasant things, although every now and then you might get hit with that uncomfortable squeamish feeling if youre not feeling in tip top shape, or see something else you have not encountered yet.

Specializes in Critical Care, Education.

It's all about compartmentalizing. At a certain point, most of us are able to isolate feelings & focus only on the intervention rather than what the patient may be feeling... that empathy is usually what causes your 'vagal' reaction. It will come with time and exposure. Here's a technique that I suggest to newbies - Think of it in terms of your A & P class - deliberately try to block thoughts that center on the patient (feelings, illness, etc). It may sound cold-hearted, but that's the way it's done. It's OK as long as you can turn it on and off...

But lugies still get to me.... .. any oral suctioning, removal of ET tubes, NG tubes or anything that produces lugies & I instantly turn green & feel pukey.

Specializes in Hospice.
It's all about compartmentalizing. At a certain point, most of us are able to isolate feelings & focus only on the intervention rather than what the patient may be feeling... that empathy is usually what causes your 'vagal' reaction. It will come with time and exposure. Here's a technique that I suggest to newbies - Think of it in terms of your A & P class - deliberately try to block thoughts that center on the patient (feelings, illness, etc). It may sound cold-hearted, but that's the way it's done. It's OK as long as you can turn it on and off...

But lugies still get to me.... .. any oral suctioning, removal of ET tubes, NG tubes or anything that produces lugies & I instantly turn green & feel pukey.

:roflmao: Lugies! I have English Bulldogs, lugies are a way of life around here!

I used to be squeamish about a variety of things... nearly vagaled out once in nursing school.

Now, very little gets to me... and nothing about trauma really gets to me anymore... (though the smell burnt flesh and the necessarily warm room, wearing a plastic gown, is a little touchy now and then). It's been a matter of acclimation like anything else, and it's been made easier by the fact that I've a bunch of things to do while it's going on and I'm more focused on my nurse role than on the "ickiness" of it.

It gets better.

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