Passed out - HELP!

1234student · Sep 24, 2010

Your not alone! I'm also a 2nd year student and 2 weeks ago my patient had to get an incision and drainage on the palm of her hand...the doctor came in and did it at the bed side. I was assisting by holding open the incision so he could place an irrigation catheter and I came very close to passing out.. The room was tiny and extrememly hot!!!! I kept getting hotter and hotter and started sweating and finally just said I'm getting really dizzy... I sat down and opened the door and was fine. I don't have a problem with blood because i have watched surgeries in the OR and had no problem. I think when i get really hot, and maybe a little nervous that doesn't help... I had another instance when i was in a pts room with a couple doctors and nurses and the room was sooo hot, i started seeing stars but didn't pass out. So your not alone, I think its just something to learn to manage or work out. I wish i would have just said this room is too hot and turned on the A/C.... It happens to everyone, try not to think about "i might pass out" But if you feel it coming on, say something and sit down!!!! Drs are MUCH happier when you speak up rather than pass out in front of them!!! Or at least thats what some have told me! They say " if you feel like you are going to pass out, just sit down on the floor where ever you are"

peppered · Sep 24, 2010

Don't worry about it. I love gore and am really tough, and if anything, my BP goes up with anxiety. But today I had my first rotation in the OR & I almost passed out. Before anything even started they warned me to sit down on a chair in the room if I felt faint, not to walk out and pass out in the hall where no one would know who you are. Anyway, I kept trying to fight it off- it started with yawning, then I could feel all the blood drain from my face & I started pumping my calves to get blood circulation. It just kept comming so I sat down , lowered my head and was ok. Then I walked down the hall, got some air, put in a piece of chewing gum under my surgical mask & was fine for the whole rest of the day. Just as long as you don't beat yourself up & see it comming. You may be able to handle it without anyone even noticing. One of my classmates fainted twice this semester in clinicals and was fine all last semester. She figured out it was her blood sugar. I think it's stress & being in a totally unfamiliar environment & on your feet so much. I think it happens to alot of people from what Ive heard. Sounds like you are getting great clinical experiences!

~Mi Vida Loca~RN, ASN, RN · Sep 25, 2010

I have passed out my whole love, but its something wrong with me, it's never been from watching something. I have gotten good at noticing the signs and sitting down before I get to the point of actually passing out now. But it has landed me coming too in an ambulance before.

LorilouRN · Sep 25, 2010

I used to be a veterinary technician and some days were worse than others during surgery. The doc told me to go sit down and eat something like a granola bar. It works! I was told some people can get a little hypoglycemic, even if you're used to seeing things like that. If you can eat a little something beforehand, see if that helps and you'll know that's what happened!

My friend's sister was doing PA clinicals and had the same problem, so they bought her some peanut buttery granola bar type things and it worked for her too.

~Mi Vida Loca~RN, ASN, RN · Sep 26, 2010

A little off topic but it is about passing out. LOL, When I was doing my maternity rotation I was in the room with a mom getting an epidural. The dad said he wanted to be in the room and he was good and stuff. He was younger, and hard to describe, but you could tell he liked to portray an image or "being badass" like he could handle anything and he was "the man".

So anyway, the Anesthesiologist is in to do the Epidural. I am by him on her back side and the nurse was in front of her doing stuff, the dad was holding mom, or rather she was curled over into him.

So I was watching to the Dr. and I see him look up at dad and get very still. He had just put the needle for numbing again in her back and was sliding it in and out. So he gets still and says "nurse", she turns and he looks at Dad and at the moment dad goes to drop. Mom is holding dad, dad is dropping, and doctor has very large needle in her back that can not be moved.

I hoped over and got a chair to take to the nurse because she wasn't letting him fall, she was pretty little though and I am sure his dead weight was heavy but she said she is not doing the paper work if he falls.

We got him in the chair and some juice and got him to come too and stuff. He was pretty embarrassed. Grandma was worried what was taking so long, she had wanted to stay but only 1 person could and dad was adamant it be him. Anyway, after all was said and done it was pretty dang funny. Later that night dad was in waiting area with family and I walk by to go off shift and I looked at him and said "when she goes to push make sure you stay up by her head" they all started laughing.

Moogie · Sep 26, 2010

On my very first day of clinicals, when I was a brand new, wet-behind-the-ears instructor, one of my students passed out. I asked her if she had eaten anything, if she had any health issues, and walked her down to the ER because she was still feeling woozy and there was no place for her to lie down on the unit. The other instructors razzed me about it and kidded me about being so "tough" on my students that they fainted.

There was no way I would have written her up for that. It just happened. But after that we both realized that clinicals could only get better...

Many gentle hugs to you. :hug:

cjohns889 · Sep 26, 2010

Thank you for all the advice and stories! It feels good to know I am not alone.

Ps. Moogie... even the virtual hugs made me feel better!