I want to become a nurse, but I'm really scared about stuff like blood, cruel thing

Neo Soldier, BSN, RN · Jul 11, 2018

You probably won't see any of that fun stuff. You'll probably be in med surg for the most part. Nursing isn't like the stuff you see on TV, so the patient with a tree lodged in his forehead may never make his way to your neck of the woods.

The cool thing is about nursing is that you get to choose your path. If you don't want to see blood and guts, then stay away from blood and guts (ICU, ER maybe) and go to Psych, long term care.

You may find that the more you're exposed to the world of nursing, the less fear you might feel. It becomes second nature. I've seen nurses deal with all types of gore and they go and get lunch right after; years of practice will do that to you.

Tarimeed · Jul 12, 2018

Try becoming a CNA First and see how that plays out....

Possum_RN · Jul 13, 2018

::WARNING - I'm going to describe some wounds and situations in my response, to accurately portray my experience... scroll past to the final paragraph if this will upset you::

So, I had the same fears when I left my first career (teaching), and decided to try a position in the medical field. I applied to a CNA program, and started volunteering at my local Humane society on spay/neuter days....partially, because I love animals and wanted to volunteer some time, partly because I wanted to test my response around blood. My first day, I got to watch a vet do a cherry-eye correction (stitching around an eye, yikes!). I loved it though - something about seeing the blood, but KNOWING that there were more experienced people around me who knew how to help and improve the animal's life was really reassuring.

Fast forward- As a student nurse, I got to observe two full knee replacements on my OR rotation. Again, it's gristly, but so reassuring to see professionals improving lives. It's amazing what we can do though surgery nowadays! Watching a surgical wound debridement was more....troubling to me, more messy to watch. But still, knowing that it's necessary and needed is a BIG mental thing. I also had some gnarly wounds I saw as a med/surg floor CNA - including one abdominal surgery dehiscence. That patient was fine...there were some stories that did not have happy outcomes, but knowing that I was part of a team that did their best and provided care to these people was very important to me: we can only do our best.

Fast forward again, student nurse ER rotation - at this point, most of my bloody experiences have been in surgery or wounds that have already been cleaned nicely and bandaged. That day, a man came in who had been hit by a car: the car had been going slow, but had backed into him, pinning him against his own car. His calf was gashed open from ankle to knee, and you could see the bone. The surly male ER nurse I was following shoved the dressing kit to me, then me to the patient! I felt this rush - It was MY TURN to directly help someone in pain and danger. I loved it, and I honestly cant even remember seeing the blood itself - I just went into the zone when I was cleaning the wound and preparing the dressing, analyzing how much I would need and the best way to apply it etc.

I never would have thought I'd be someone who thrived on the "blood, organ, some cruel things"....but someone needs to do it, and I found that I can. I'd like to specialize in wound care or Hospice, someday. Seeing blood in the hospital is still very different for me, than seeing blood outside of the hospital, where there is no one to turn to if things get serious. In the hospital, I feel supported. Go slow, get exposure though a CNA program (where you will be dealing with stable patients) or though a volunteer vet tech position if one is available (your local humane society may do surgery days locally and have volunteer positions). You might find, like me, that seeing blood in a medical setting is very different from seeing it in "the outside world".

TheDudeWithTheBigDog, ADN, RN · Jul 13, 2018

Hi I just graduated high school just few weeks ago and I will become a college student soon.
even though I'm major in pre nursing right now, but I'm really worried about all the scary stuff in nursing school/class. Such as blood, organ, some cruel things ( I don't to how to explain that..)
So my question is how can I overcome all the fears about stuff that I mentioned?
is there any fast way to overcome it?

Call your local hospitals, explain that you're thinking about nursing, and see if they'll let you shadow some nurses on different types of units. The only way you're going to get over those fears is by having to work with them.

wyofishgirl · Jul 16, 2018

No offense, but, as poorly as your question was written, I don't think you're going to have to worry.

Wiggly Litchi · Jul 16, 2018

No offense, but, as poorly as your question was written, I don't think you're going to have to worry.

Wow, so not cool.

1) It wasn't -that- bad.

2) Totally no need for that.

3) I work as a tutor at my local community college and I've seen some BAD stuff. That being said, if those young adults apply themselves (which a good portion do), they are capable of anything. One of the guys I worked with wanted to be a nurse and he had awful written English skills, but guess who just got his acceptance letter and will start in the fall? We worked together for the last year and the turnaround was amazing.