I fainted in L&D clinical... HELP

[mflaws, CNA]

Hi all,

So I have been a CNA on a med-surg unit for 5 years now and have seen some nasty/crazy things. Today during my Labor & Delivery clinical, I fainted during a lady partsl birth. The thing is, I was not grossed out or squeamish at all and was actually really upset that I fainted and could not continue assisting. I have seen way worse stuff in my career such as flesh eating bacteria that wore away through muscle, tissue, & ligaments where I cared for the large mass wound of their upper thigh and groin. I have witnessed blood spurting across the room/onto myself, have been drenched in blood from patients to where my scrubs are no longer viable, and love dealing with trauma patients/situations. I was super excited to witness my first lady partsl birth too. We had already been in the room helping her push for at least 40 minutes. Nothing in particular made me faint either, it just happened out of nowhere.

I am really in Labor and Delivery too and have been on the fence between being a trauma nurse or a Labor and Delivery nurse. Now I'm super embarrassed and shocked i passed out. I know passing out is a normal thing to occur in those situations but I had eaten an hour before and made sure i didn't hold my breath along with the patient when she pushed. I do have have a condition called postural orthostatic tachycardia syndrome (POTS for short) and have fainted a couple times before due to it but I can easily control it and has only ever happened from change of positions like laying to standing too quick.

I am just confused to why I fainted but I was wondering if anyone else had any stories similar or even if they know coworkers/friends that passed out during L&D clinicals and then still went on to become and L&D nurse?

[jalilly]

Hi! I understand this must have been an awkward and anxiety provoking experience for you.

First of all, you CAN be a L&D nurse even though you fainted during your first lady partsl birth. I have a friend who fainted during her observation in the OR and now works as an OR nurse. Syncope is a natural physiologic reaction and sometimes it just happens. I know you aren't squeamish but you were standing for >40 minutes, it was probably a crowded room, maybe you were sweaty. If L&D is your passion don't give it up entirely.

[AnnieNP, MSN, NP]

DO NOT STRESS!! I have a friend who passed out the first time in the OR who became a very successful surgeon! You can do this.

[rvzohfeld, BSN, MSN, RN]

I almost fainted while on my first OR rotation. It was a D&C. It was a young woman on her 20’s and I couldn’t stop thinking about the vacuum with the products of conception while it was going trough the tube.... so I felt lightheaded; luckily there was a stool right behind me and I sat down. The nurses noticed that I got pale. At the end it was kind of “fun”... I mean we all joked about the nurse student that “almost fainted”... and here I am 10 years later; I have worked in all kind of cases, procedures... seen more blood and put pressure in so many bleeds and wounds and no more fainting. So don’t stress, it is somewhat normal to happen at first and even sometimes later depending on what’s going on with your own health.

[MiladyMalarkey, ASN, BSN]

I almost passed out during an ultrasound procedure....yes an ultrasound. But I hadn't eaten, had drank coffee & the room was pretty warm. Luckily a desk was in there for me to lean/sit on & recover. Like you, I've seen some things & never phased me so when this U/S happened, I was like what is happening? I was able to pinpoint the conditions (not eating, warm room, likely dehydrated etc.) as likely cause. Sometimes it can just happen. I've learned my lesson to now stop and do some self care, especially before shift.

[Sour Lemon]

I slumped into a wall and down to the floor sweating from an accucheck, because the lancet was twisted just slightly.

I also had to leave a c-section because I knew I was getting close to fainting. In that case, it was the patient screaming and crying that did it ...along with the twisting motion of the instruments.

I think you're still in the game. ?