passed out

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Specializes in NICU.

Last Friday was my second day on the NICU as a new nurse. One of the NP's was about to insert an umbilical line and my preceptor asked me if I wanted to watch. I'm standing there watching the NP who was having trouble getting the line in. The warmer is on and the lights are really bright. I start feeling really hot. So I took a step back. Then I see my preceptor walking towards me and I passed out. :o When I woke up, I was sitting in a rocking chair. My nurse asked if I ate breakfast and I told her I did. She gave me a drink of water and told me to go on a break. Well, I was pretty embarrassed, but the nurses in the room were great. My nurse educator came to check up on me and shared her "fainting" story with me.

I'm not really sure what happened. I don't get grossed out easily. I think it was the heat and the bright lights that got to me. Putting my embarrassing moment aside, I must say I'm really enjoying my orientation.

Any fainting/embarrassing stories you would like to share??

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Specializes in Neonatal ICU (Cardiothoracic).

No fainting for me, but I placed a hard-to-stickscalp IV while on orientation (after several experienced RN's had tried) only to turn red as his face blanches white as a ghost as I flushed it. It wasn't my last scalp "art line!" ....and I was soooo smug about getting that IV (ha! IA.....)

Stephen

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I nearly passed out when in nursing school and watching brain surgery. I felt like I was hyperventilating with the mask on. It almost happened again during another surgery when I smelled the cauterization...that smell grosses me out! :(

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Specializes in Med/Surge, ER.

I had just found out that I was pregnant, and you know how you feel when you're pregnant. It was the middle of my shift, and I was assisting one of our surgeons put in a fem cath (assisted many times), the room was hot, I was already nauseated and dizzy, and apparently I looked as bad as I felt, because the doc asked me if I was ok....Of course, I said yes, and then I hit the floor.

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Specializes in med/surg.

There are very few of us who have not at the very least felt dizzy & faint at one time or another during our careers. Don't worry at all.

I too was pregnant when I had a problem - I was assisting with a minor op that I'd done so many times the consultant joked with me that he could probably leave the room & let me do the procedure. No sooner had he said that then I started to feel that dry/hot feeling & saw dots before my eyes. I pulled myself round but from then on in I was always nervous of doing those minor ops!

When I did my return to nursing program I even felt giddy just in the anaesthetic room. So don't worry - really!!

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I have only fainted a few times in my life, and each time it was because I was severely dehydrated, and always in the morning and after something stressful happened. Do you think you drink enough fluids?

When I started making a concious effort to drink enough, it hasn't happened since.

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Specializes in PICU.

I am a new PICU RN. On my second dayshift (I had done 6 weeks of nights). I was reading the chart, felt very dehydrated stood up, felt dizzy, went to the break room, and then threw up. I was just stressed out. One of the Clinical Coordinators drove me home. I was very embarassed. But I haven't had one of those spells in 5 months. It happened during my first few weeks of orientation

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Specializes in cardiac med-surg.

first year of college, in hospital, doing a bedbath on 70 yr old mr. d, mva pt, and the team doing rounds with the nm walks in and i get all weak -kneed

so i go out sit down and breath, eat something

when i return to the bedside 1/2 hour later there the poor old fella is half naked and half washed as i left him

oops

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Specializes in nicu.

When I was a medic in the military, i assisted on many vasectomies. The first one I saw I nearly hit the ground. It happens to everyone. Don't worry about it.

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Specializes in Med/Surg, Geri, Ortho, Telemetry, Psych.

I have never fainted. I'm sure my time will come:chair:. Don't worry about it.;)

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We had a resident pass out during a delivery.

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Specializes in PICU, ICU, Transplant, Trauma, Surgical.

I hear ya on the passing out. About a month ago I was doing cares and vitals on a babe, and after changing the leads out, felt very light headed, sweaty, dizzy, naucious. I told the nurse that was in the isolation room with me that I "wasn't feeling too good" and she was like "Holy crap you are white as a ghost" and she yelled for help, next thing I knew I was in the lounger-recliner with my feet up and a washcloth on my forehead. My scrubs were soaked with sweat (ick!) I was sent home because they were worried. I was fine, I was told it was a vagal syncope. I blame it on being in the isolation room, gowned gloved and masked, and overheated. Boo hoo, passing out sucks and I hope it never happens again!!!! :idea:

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