Is Nursing For Me?

[PharmacologyPhan]

Hi All! I am new to the site and have found some very encouraging and informative posts from members so thank you! I'm hoping to get some input/advice on my current situation, thanks!

I graduated about 2 years ago with a business degree and after working in the business field, I found myself wanting more from my career, and thus decided to enter the field of nursing. I have always been very interested and intrigued by the medical field but originally shyed away from nursing when I entered college form high school because of my dislike for blood, needles and anything that I perceive as painful. I am currently completing the last 2 pre-reqs I need in order to being the accelerated BSN in my area and have been shadowing friends who are currently nurses to get some insight into the profession. I am also volunteering at a hospital to acquaint myself with the hospital environment as well as help to make a positive impact on those patients in the hospital. Before my first volunteer shift, a friend that works in the same hospital offered to take me through his unit, the Cardiac ICU. I was excited to see the unit and about 5 minutes into my friend showing me around, I started to feel faint, my ears and sense of smell became very acute and I got that dizzy "I'm going to pass out" feeling. I quickly excited the unit and fortunately did not pass out but for the next several hours had an adrenaline rush feeling. I have always been squeamish while getting my blood taken but recently thought I made some strides when I received my TB test and hardly felt anxious.

I now find myself having anxiety about entering any unit of the hospital which clearly prevents me from doing my job as a volunteer and also makes me question whether I will ever be able to be a nurse. I am fairly certain that my anxiety stems from the fact that I am afraid to have that passing out feeling again and if I do, not being able to exit a patient's room in enough time. I have a strong desire to help those in need and enjoy comforting those that are scared or uncertain but I don't know if it's worth me having this sort of anxiety. Will this ever go away? Am I just not cut out to be a nurse? I always eat breakfast, limit my caffeine intake and remember to breath but is there anything else I can do to prevent that feeling of anxiety and also the passing out feeling? Thanks for reading and sorry it's so long! I look forward to your responses!

[CASTLEGATES]

I nearly passed out watching (and assisting ) in my first hip replacement surgery (at 12 years old)...don't ask but it's true! I had to "go out and get some air" and excuse myself from this crash course in surgery having never seen stitches before!

Fast forward a decade and after a few doubled over gagging sessions in the hall, i can do just about anything. If it's a smell that bad, on goes the mask and i take a halls eucalyptus and I'm cured of being able to smell anything. For me, i liked the adrenaline feeling; similar to skydiving my first time ( and I did that solely because I was scared of heights).

Have fun, pass out if you need to (just try to lay down fast so you don't hit your head if you do). You're not getting any younger and you only have this one life (unless you're lucky nuff to be Buddhist, etc).

[Kitesurfing bum]

I wish I had some comforting advice for you, but I don't... I'm pretty much in the exact same boat as you!

Business Admin degree in 2006, turned a different route and here I am about to interview for an absn program in a couple days.

I had to get my blood drawn once and I passed out in the chair. I watched my wife get her wisdom teeth pulled and I was about 2 seconds away from passing out... I had the exact same feeling as you described.

People have told me I'll get over it, so I'm really hoping it's a mind over matter deal otherwise I'll need to wear a helmet to work!

I'm anxious to hear advice from others!

[honeymist]

Hmm...I think you'll get thru that. I am not weirded out by medical stuff, but just the general "i'm going to pass out/throw up/etc" feeling you mention I've definitely experienced. Just remember, your mind is a powerful thing and as much as it's overwhelming you with fearful thoughts, it's just as capable of overcoming these feelings. Don't let this become a self-fulfilling prophesy...if you convince yourself you just can't do it, you wont be able to.

I went thru a period of time awhile back where I was super anxious about things - it was related to something else, but I'd get that "i've got to get out of here NOW" feeling and I would even have trouble sitting thru meetings at work (finance job)...I talked to someone about my fears and just realized that I am stronger than letting things that I'm afraid of control me. Just realize you are likely NOT going to pass out. Keep focused, see things from a clinical perspective, like "how cool is that?! they are repairing his heart/hip/etc...medicine is amazing"....if you look at it from that perspective I think you'll feel better equipped to deal with it. Good for you for taking the initiative to shadow people to see what it's all about!