Nervous stomach/ about to start first RN job

Nurses New Nurse

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Specializes in None! Only experience was during school.

Hi all-

I just graduated in May and am about to start my first job as an RN. The problem is that I had a few "episodes" during my two years in school that are making me really nervous about starting next week. The first happened during my first clinical rotation- I came pretty darn close to passing out while watching a chest tube insertion at the bed side. Luckily, I (ungracefully) exited the room before I hit the floor. Then, during my summer session, I had to leave the room during a PICC insertion. Finally, during my senior preceptorship, I felt a little queasy while removing a drain from a post-op knee.

My question is- is this normal? Are there things that bug all nurses? If so, do you eventually get over it and how?

Should I start looking into a new career? :(

Thanks, EB

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there are many jobs in nursing that do not require you to do any of this... dr. office, school nurse, health departments, ext.... find your fit and you'll be more happy.

On the other hand, experiencing these things gets easy with time. Just be up front about it with your preceptor, and expect the backhanded comments of "And You went to school to be a nurse?".

I try very hard, but I still gag uncontrollably at the smell of poop, and don't see it ebbing up anytime soon. Fortunately, I don't always have to smell poop every day, just like you most likely won't have to see/care for a chest tube everyday. You most likely won't have to see a picc inserted everyday.

If you can handle most of it with grace, then don't sweat the small stuff. I'm sure you can muster enough courage in yourself to endure the less graceful moments of your job. I have faith in you. You did after-all make it through nursing school and pass those boards!

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Specializes in L&D, M/B.

After more than 25 years of nursing I still can't be in the room if my pt. is throwing up. I can handle just about anything else but that. But the nurses I work with love me and will go take care of the problem and I draw all their labs for them. Fair trade in my book!!

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Specializes in Critical care, private duty, office peds.

I about passed out on an patient's epidural insertion (note that I had it done to myself 4 times in one day), I quietly sat down on the couch when I became lightheaded and knee-weak. I was pretty dizzy trying to watch a chest tube insertion, and will always gag at a whiff of adult poop. And mucus isn't bad as long as I'm suctioning it out. I don't mind vomit though.

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Badger, i was a Paramedic for umpteen years, never had a problem...until i watched an anesthesiologist try to tube a 10 y.o. asthmatic in the ED. I almost passed out; sat down with my head low. My partner years ago was very experienced--had a pt in the back on the way to the hospital and he got carsick. These things happen. Yours may be everytime or just sometimes; can you tell?

It may help if you are conscious of your breathing or try to focus on another aspect of the procedure. Or, find another area of nursing.:twocents:

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