Nursing and fainting........(long)

[Euphrosyne7]

Hi,

Years ago, (starting in 3rd grade), I had gone through this "phase" for lack of a better word, where I would faint whenever I had fillings done at the dentist's, the eyedoctor's (contact lense fitting), or having blood taken. I would also get very lightheaded if I was around people who had tubes in them, etc.

I think the last time I actually fainted was about 7 years ago when I was having a wisdom tooth extracted, and I actually passed out before they had gotten me completely under anesthesia so they had to wake me up and start again........I don't even have any recollection other than feeling like I was going to vomit and then nothing.........

Anyway, years have passed, and I have taken care of my friend who is epileptic, during a seizure, and given my diabetic dog shots of insulin ( which I realize is no big deal, but years ago, I would have fainted by these things) and at some point decided that I wanted to be a nurse. Realistically I am probably better suited for certain types of nursing rather than med surg nursing but......I figured if I could get through clinicals, I should be fine.

(I am interested in Psych nursing at this time)

I am now in my first semester of nursing school and have yet to even take a clinical class; however, during a recent lecture, I almost fainted right where I was sitting. The teacher was showing a picture of parenteral and enteral tube feedings, and the more she talked about it, the dizzier I got until I was actually sweating and almost seeing spots.....like when I used to have blood taken from me.

So now, my dilemma is......if I cannot seem to sit through CLASS without feeling like this, HOW will I get through clinicals??? Not to mention that it is pretty bad if your nurse falls to the floor as you are in need of some emergency procedure.

I am sure that right away, everyone will suggest that perhaps I find another field for a career; however, I really do want to be a nurse. I am empathatic, nurturing, caring and intelligent. I feel that if I could just get over this "glitch", I would make a really good nurse, and I am not ready to just give up yet.

I am thinking that if I get desensitized to stuff that makes me feel like fainting, then at some point it might just stop?

Any advice is welcome.

Sorry so long..........

Carla

[ruby360]

This is a vasovagal reaction to the site or thought of something very disturbing to you. It is a natural phenomenon related to activation of the autonomic nervous system. You should, through experience, develop a tolerance to various procedures. I will always remember, years ago in high school biology, the tallest guy in the class, who was a fantastic athlete and headed for medical school, fainting when we were doing finger sticks to determine our blood types. He now has a PhD and works in biotech. I, myself, have felt a bit nauseated at times but it usually has to do with someone performing a procedure on me. For instance, I cannot look when someone is drawing my blood but, yet, I am able to start IVs and handle all sorts of human bodily functions, as long as it happens to someone else.

You will overcome this. Good luck!

[nurseshanti]

I'm in nursing school right now and I have experienced a few moments of feeling really faint. The most memorable for me were once in skills lab when we were practicing wound care (which was the most embarassing because we weren't even practicing on real people or with real blood!) and once while observing in the OR. I've realized that the times I feel faint are when I don't feel like I have control over the particular procedure. Like if I'm watching someone else do someone else demonstrate venipuncture for example. But if I have to do something with my own two hands, like the times I've done wound care myself on patients, then it's a lot easier for me to just focus on the job and not feel faint. That's helped me a lot.

It's also helped me to know other nursing students in my class who have felt faint at different times. When I know I'm going to be in the OR in the morning, then I make sure to eat something!! And if I do start to feel faint, like the one time in the OR when the anesthetist was demonstrating to me how to intubate the patient, then I just excuse myself and sit down for a few minutes.

I've also seen a clinical clerk (3rd year med student) totally pass out after observing in the OR and that made me feel better too!!

[Kiwi Rochelle]

Hi there, I too can sympathise with your problem! I have been an RN for just over a year now and I am pleased to tell you that things will definately get better! On my first day of nursing school I can remember blacking out in my seat when the lecturer told us about the blood tests and vaccinations we would have to get before we started clinicals. After having the blood taken I fainted in the medical centre! As a child I always used to feel faint when visiting friends and relatives in hospital, just looking at an IV would make me start to sweat. I was really worried about starting my nursing training cause I thought everyone would think I was an idiot - "how can she be a nurse if she faints at the sight of blood"!

However I now find myself going about my duties without giving this a second thought. I have been involoved with some gory procedures and have been fine - I even had blood taken the other day with no problems.

Best of luck to you:)

[sphinx, BSN, RN]

I too am prone to fainting, and simply feeling faint. The big one is when I have blood drawn. I have also gone down when standing for long periods of time without moving around. In nursing school I was shadowing in a GYN clinic and watched the removal of norplant....they had to dig around for them, meanwhile injecting more and more lidocaine right into where they were digging around. Blood was pouring down her arm, and the girl was watching it all, fasciated! I was going down and they caught me, dragged me out and put my head between my knees. I fainted in elementary school once-I didn't even know I had fainted, till I was walking down the hall to the nurses office and a kid asked me "aren't you the girl who fainted?" And another time before having my tonsils out. Sometime I feel close to fainting when I am anxious about something.

Someone said don't lock your knees-that does help. Also, have a bit to eat. And as others have said, concentrate on breathing. These things can help......but yes, sometimes I still feel like I'm gonna hit the deck, but it has decreased a LOT! Good luck, you'll be fine!