Have you ever fainted ðŸ˜•

mtnbbs · Jul 1, 2015

Don't worry-its not unusual! I fainted twice in nursing school and once on my floor as a new nurse! I was just talking to coworkers last night about when I was gowned up watching an arterial (not doing, just watching it) during a crazy busy time and passed out! I felt so bad but they thought nothing of it, that was four years ago, I think you kinda learn what makes you woozy and deal with it different. I once almost passed out once when a patient was telling me about their life challenges because it was traumatic to me. Now I can take charge in a code and regularly care for a patient while they are passing and am able to comfort family and keep it together...until I am out of their sight BUT I still have had 3 or 4 times that I found myself woozy and had to step aside for a second. Good coworkers get it and remind you not to lock your knees and to breathe! It has nothing to do with your competency, just a physiological response, give yourself time to adjust, you are still getting used to your new norm! Good luck!

Madras · Jul 1, 2015

Congrats on your new job!

first question: Did you eat breakfast/hydrate?

Second question: Are you pregnant?

Farawyn · Jul 1, 2015

YES! As a nursing student. In my Peds/Onc rotation. I ate and I was not pregnant. I just couldn't handle what I was seeing.

KMarieD · Jul 1, 2015

I had eaten lunch maybe three hours before. And no to bring pregnant! Just peed on a stick today because that was any first thought. Only other time I had been sick during a procedure was during school a week before found out I was pregnant.

I'm still feeling sick thinking about it. í ½í¸·í ½í¸·í ½í¸·

OCNRN63, RN · Jul 1, 2015

I nearly fainted twice when I was a student. The first time was when I was observing a thoracentesis. I wound up staggering out of the room, Frankenstein-like, and flopped into a chair that was in the hallway. The pt was a skinny little old man. It looked like the needle could go right through him.

The second time was when I was in the OR observing a bladder suspension. I could feel that sensation coming on, so I backed away and leaned up against the wall. The surgeon called over to me after a few minutes and asked me to stand next to him; odd, because he wasn't exactly known for being a nice guy. I think it was that "zip" of the first incision that got to me.

I had a few "barfish" moments in OB, but I held my ground.

Madras · Jul 1, 2015

Lol. It definately is ok to feel a bit "fainty"during new experiences. Especially if your expected to be a part of the process!

I nearly passed out the first time I cleaned up a c-diff blowout!!! I made my way over to the chair the patient had just been sitting in! I didn't care! I just needed to sit! Lol

The other time for me was in nursing school in the newborn nursery under those heat lamps. It was just too warm for me.

But now in the OR nearly passing out is the first trimester right of passage.... At least at my job!

meanmaryjean, DNP, RN · Jul 1, 2015

I almost went out years ago. Working in the ER and this guy had mangled the dorsum of his hand. Hand surgeon wanted me to take pictures of various stages of the repair for his records. something about looking through the viewfinder and seeing those tendons and clamps on them close up.........ugh.

Pangea Reunited, ASN, RN · Jul 1, 2015

I've come close three times. The first was when we did finger-sticks in anatomy lab to check HCT levels. The person who stuck me twisted the lancet and I started sweating profusely and slumped down against a wall. The second was during a c-section. I couldn't see much, but there also seemed to be a lot of pulling and twisting going on. The patient was awake and distressed and crying, which made it even worse for me (and I guess for her, too). I had to leave the OR and was terrified that I'd come crashing down before I made it out the door.

The third time was while I was changing a colostomy bag and I felt really bad about that one. The colostomy didn't bother me, but the adhesive had a strong chemical property that sent me to the brink. I had to leave the room and recover.

These experiences all occurred in school. I don't let myself get to that point anymore, but as a student, I couldn't easily walk away.

The only times I've actually fainted were after donating blood and once while having a miscarriage. I was not at work either of those times, thank goodness.

xoemmylouox, ASN, RN · Jul 1, 2015

In nursing school during a knee replacement surgery.. That was brutal and I had not eaten...

My co-worker passed out cold when watching a super pubic cath change.. (I'll admit those can make me even a bit nauseated).

Twinmom06, ASN, APN · Jul 1, 2015

yes back in March - caveat I'd had gastro and had days and days of diarrhea I was tachy for days and could feel the palpitations - we got into an RRT right at shift change and the next thing I knew the room was black and spinning. I made it out into the hallway where one of my coworkers was coming on to shift and she put me in an office chair and wheeled me to the ER. Dehydration and a K+ of 3 for the win!

NOADLS · Jul 1, 2015

When I was 10, I wandered into a forest just north of my hometown which we've been warned not to wander into. Anyhow, I did it with the protection from one of my dogs. Anyhow, this rat jumped out and attacked us. This rat was quite sizable. About 7.7 pounds and purple-white in color. The rat tackled my dog which caused it to faint. I tried to flee with my dog, but this rat used a quick attack on us which caused me to black out. The next thing I knew, I woke up back in my home town.