Nursing student pass out??? I

TigerGalLE, BSN, RN · Mar 13, 2010

Just make sure you eat a high protein breakfast.... Low blood sugar + blood and/or poop = passing out.

netglow, ASN, RN · Mar 13, 2010

Also, remember to breathe (in and out, in and out -- slow and even). When observing a procedure, be sure you do not stand with your legs locked tight. Always shift your weight a little making sure your knees can stay bendy.

The above is good if you get invited to watch a CABG/valve or trauma-treasure-hunt surgery tableside :up: You probably won't get grossed out, it's more like too excited, because it's so way-cool. Always be prepared and sneak a snack in your pocket in case you get invited somewhere really exciting, you can eat it as you rush there... you would hate to say, oh, I am too hungry to stand thru this. :eek:

~Mi Vida Loca~RN, ASN, RN · Mar 13, 2010

Is flex clinicals?

juliaann · Mar 13, 2010

You probably won't get grossed out, it's more like too excited, because it's so way-cool.

Totally. :yeah: :heartbeat:yeah::redpinkhe:yeah::heartbeat

ladybugme! · Mar 13, 2010

A flex = and 8 week course/rotation... We do our semesters in half the time...a normal college semester is 16 weeks but we do ours in 8 weeks...so you get 2 semesters done in 1.... its crazzzy fast hard work!!! wild I tell you!

Thank you for all your help!

swirlything · Mar 13, 2010

I very nearly passed out when observing in OR. One of my classmates DID pass out when observing OR. The doc and nurses in the OR told me that they have student nurses pass out all the time in there.

~Mi Vida Loca~RN, ASN, RN · Mar 13, 2010

A flex = and 8 week course/rotation... We do our semesters in half the time...a normal college semester is 16 weeks but we do ours in 8 weeks...so you get 2 semesters done in 1.... its crazzzy fast hard work!!! wild I tell you!
Thank you for all your help!

Oh so it's like quarters. My old college I transferred from we had quarters like that too. It was a big adjustment moving and going to a college that works in semesters, the grade system changed to when I moved, I was living in the North West and moved to CO. Anyway, I just never heard the term flex before. Good luck with it all and I am sure you will do fine!

simboka · Mar 13, 2010

Infinitely better to excuse yourself, sit down, and possibly need to appologize later then for you to pass out. Passing out on my floor gets you a trip downstairs to the ED.

DoGoodThenGo · Mar 13, 2010

Prior to starting clinicals for Med/Surg II and or OB, each semester instructors at my old school would inform students that if they felt faint or sick, to step away from the table. Last thing anyone wanted was for a SN to drop where she was standing, causing a panic. Sometimes one was advised to lean against a wall, and crouch down putting one head low. Thing about clinicals is that SNs cannot go anywhere, especially on OR or OB rotations without their instructor, neither can she leave her charges to see off a sick feeling student.

First day of Med/Surg I clinicals we hit the floors and some of my classmates made a face at "that smell" (anyone who has worked in a hospital knows it well), and swear some were about to loose their breakfast (it was about 8AM). Me? Since one had been a NA for years, the smell didn't bother me at all.

netglow, ASN, RN · Mar 13, 2010

It's interesting to see the differences in how clinical is run. When I was in college it was highly dependent on the hutzpah of the instructor, and/or the ties she had with the facility. For a few semesters we could definitely go elsewhere with instructor and local approval. With other instructors we certainly felt like we learned almost nothing. Sometimes it's nice to be able to follow a patient, you learn A LOT this way.

If in OR, GI, ICU, Infusion, our instructor was not there. We were under the control of the manager/coordinator/RN/Doc. We had our clear instructions of what we could and could not do. Also if you were OK'd by the OR coordinator after sizing you up, you could approach a surgeon, introduce yourself and get invited to observe. This was great. But, if you required "managing" you certainly would be sent back to your instructor ASAP. You'd make quick calls to your instructor to ask if you could continue, etc. like calling your mom and saying you were going over to your friend's house to play :lol2: She'd say, OK, be back by 3:00! What is surprising is the total disbelief I got from baby docs I met, who have not been able to observe in this way. They feel slighted, which made me feel bad, sort of. Who knew?! I am sure, doors opened for me because of the way I approached these surgeons, and, because I was seen as harmless.

To all you students that have this chance. Take it. When you are a nurse you will probably never have this open door again.

RNKPCE · Mar 13, 2010

I was a student nurse working as a cna and passed out assisting a nurse put in a foley(my first time) the curtains were pulled all around the bed, so it was a combo of things. I've also felt faint once helping with a real bad decub. I think if I had been doing not assisting it wouldn't have happened.

I've been a nurse for over 18 years so it didn't stop me from doing what I wanted to do.