FAINTING...what made you drop?

[Music_Box_Dancer]

I'm a pre-nursing student waiting for my acceptance letter this July. I've been known to faint from time to time. So, here's my question, what made you faint during your time at nursing school?

I wanted to be a nurse (since I was a little girl), but I stayed away from the field because I listened to my family who thought I wouldn't be able to keep my knees from wabbling. Only after my best friend's daughter graduated as a surgical tech that I revisited my goal. This young lady was known to pass out during class and was laughed at by her peers, but her instructor kept the faith. He told her she could get through it. He said simply, "You have to stay focused. The patient needs you more than the floor does."

She ended up graduating at the top of her class!

I would love to be further inspired by another story. So, now that I'm seated, let me know what I'm up against!

[Music_Box_Dancer]

Zsbaby, do you think it was because you were concentrating on the pt when it was your turn and let your mind wonder when it wasn't? Mind over matter is what we've been discussing on a few of these threads. Just wanted to know your thoughts on that?

[zsbaby]

Music box, I think you are exactly right!! I truely believe in mind over matter!

[r0b0tafflicti0n]

I almost fainted during my CNA clinicals, oddly, because I am not typically squeamish. I was helping and RN who was irrigating a particularly nasty pressure ulcer (to the bone; you could see all the muscles twitching and everything). I think more than everything the woman's distress got to me and I just got flushed all over and had to go sit in the hall for a while.

[cursedandblessed]

i got woozy the first time i saw a placenta something about the ci digging it out of the biohazard trash just grossed me out, the second time it was fine (it was fresher)i've only fainted when i've given blood. some feces still makes me feel a bit pukey though.

[prmenrs, RN]

Went to school ~ 40 odd years ago; one winter day, they sent ~ 6 of us into a small, overheated room to watch a screaming newborn get circumcised. Lucky me, I had my usual nasty dysmenorrhea (no NSAIDS in those days, x ASA). After a few minutes of watching the resident make a big deal out of it, I started to feel like ----. I was leaning against a counter and actually blacked out, but didn't fall. I came back around a few seconds later, and just left the room. I went back to the L&D lounge, eventually, they sent me back to the dorm.

[Music_Box_Dancer]

...I started to feel like ----. I was leaning against a counter and actually blacked out, but didn't fall.

Kudos to you for staying on your feet! Congratulations for your 40+ years as a nurse.

[Purple_Scrubs, BSN, RN]

It has been said and deserves repeating: never ever ever lock your knees! I almost went down observing in the OR even though I was warned about the dreaded knee-lock. I just got so into observing that I forgot. When you are standing still for long periods (OR observation or a long dressing change, etc), you have to keep reminding yourself to shift your weight and keep those knees loose! Also, if you think you are going to go down, put your back on the wall so hopefully you will slide down gently (as opposed to toppling forward into, say, a sterile field! No I did not do that but I have heard stories)

It is mind over matter! You can do it!

[Music_Box_Dancer]

i got woozy the first time i saw a placenta something about the ci digging it out of the biohazard trash just grossed me out, the second time it was fine (it was fresher)i've only fainted when i've given blood. some feces still makes me feel a bit pukey though.

ok, i know this question might sound strange, but i was wondering if breathing through your mouth (instead of your nose) eliminates the smelling sense that makes a lot of people nauseated?

[Do-over, ASN, RN]

Eat breakfast!!! Put a granola bar in your pocket and eat it half way through clinical. Trust me =)

I have't fainted yet - but I did see stars and get really clammy watching a chest tube get replaced - and I am not squeamish at all. This was 5 hours into clinical and I did not take 30 seconds to eat the granola bar in my pocket. I've actually seen much worse (in my opinion), but I normally eat better and haven't had another problem since.

[Music_Box_Dancer]

Eat breakfast!!! Put a granola bar in your pocket and eat it half way through clinical. Trust me =)

I have't fainted yet - but I did see stars and get really clammy watching a chest tube get replaced - and I am not squeamish at all. This was 5 hours into clinical and I did not take 30 seconds to eat the granola bar in my pocket. I've actually seen much worse (in my opinion), but I normally eat better and haven't had another problem since.

I will definitely do that...thank you!

[CBsMommy]

I've fainted twice because the knee lock situation, once during my aunt's wedding and once waiting in line at an amusement park. I do get really weird feelings of woozy when studying certain things (like the way the blood pumps through the heart). I'm not sure why! I would also second the advice on eating. It does make a world of difference!

[NiesyLuv0o]

So weird you start this topic now. I am not easily grossed out. But the other day, I had a patient with uncontrollable gangrene all over her body. I went to do my assessment, and the sent gave me a TKO. I almost gagged infront of her. I had never done that, even for the worse of smell and icky body fluids. It is just something to get use to. Hopefully by the time I am a nurse, I have gotten use to it, because I want to work in Med-Surg until I find my niche.

Good Luck!