fm1089

This same thing happened to me last week in clinicals. I'm a 2nd year student in my med surg rotation and I got so lightheaded watching a jugular vein catheter removal that I actually fell over onto my friend and 2 nurses had to put me in a chair. Unlike you, I think I actually do have a slight problem with blood but just haven't been around it enough to really know it. Yesterday I had to watch blood being drawn twice and felt myself getting hot both times. BUT I also had to watch a jugular vein catheter removal for the first time after passing out and was completely fine. It's all mental, and it's totally possible to overcome. Just may take some time to train the brain to not get dizzy/faint at the sight of these things. I was just as scared, if not more scared than you were about going back into clinicals. I couldn't even sleep the night before, but I ended up being ok. Don't be so hard on yourself!!! It happens to a LOT of people.

Within the first 5 minutes of being at clinicals today I had to watch the same procedure that made me almost pass out the first time. I MADE IT!! I was so excited. I still got a little hot and sweaty but it was before the nurse even removed the dressing so I think I was just panicking that I would pass out again. I ended up being absolutely fine. My confidence is back!! Thank all of you guys so much for sharing your stories. I kept them all in the back of my mind and used them for encouragement. Couldn't have done it alone :)

Oh no!!! Haha I jinxed you!! It can be so embarrassing to fall/trip/faint especially in front of patients. My clinical instructor put me back on the step down unit tomorrow to help me get over my squeamishness, so wish me luck!! Lol I'll need it, I'm scared it will happen again. I definitely don't want to be known as "the girl who passes out". But I am kind of excited to see how it goes tomorrow. Fingers crossed :)

Yeah it sounds silly but I don't think I would have been as beat up about the whole thing if that nurse didn't kick me while I was down. As much as I wanted to brush it off like I didn't care, he really got in my head. It was almost like he knew exactly what to say to make me feel worse.

Understandable. A lot of the time I feel like I'm getting in the way of the nurse at clinical for that exactly reason. It's not your fault!! Maybe when the student gets there you can give them tasks to do to lessen your load--vitals and such. Even if a student doesn't know how to take a blood pressure they should be able to figure out how to watch for respirations lol. Don't feel guilty if you're having a super busy day, but even if you just talk out loud about what youre doing while you're working with your patient, the students will learn from you.

Why not try doing a year or so at a community college and finish pre/co-reqs for nursing school--A&P 1 and 2, micro, chem, etc. that's what I did, and then transferred to a 4 year BSN school

Lol wow all of your stories are great and made me feel 100% better. I'm sure I'll have a few more dizzy episodes because I don't have the strongest tolerance to blood, but after reading the rest of this thread I'm confident I'll get over it. You are all so inspirational, and I really can't thank you enough for sharing your experiences with me. My next clinical is Wednesday--I was nervous to go again before, but now I see it as an exciting challenge! (Ps. The amniotic fluid story takes the cake lol lol I was laughing out loud)

....plus will make them less nervous and better future nurses.

I'm in my second year of my BSN now and clinical is just generally uncomfortable experience for me. What I have noticed is that when I'm paired with a nurse who explains everything she or he is doing to me I'm much more excited to learn. We're eager and new to this field, so we'll soak up anything you have to share with us. Concerning the student who didnt know how to take a blood pressure, maybe you could have been the one to show her the right way! I bet she (or he) would have a better chance of learning on an actual patient rather than a friend or from a book. The most uncomfortable thing for students during clinical is standing around and not really being sure of what to do--maybe try to ask the students what they've been reviewing that week (which assessment, body system, medication, etc), and then help them apply that knowledge during the day. remember, EVERYTHING is new for students, so explaining the tiniest things or letting them observe basically anything (hanging IV fluids/using a pump, wound care, foley catheter insertion, drawing blood, documenting) will be new and exciting for them to watch! :)

Hahaha omg no joke, that blood episode in dexter was one of the first things I thought about!! Too funny. You are all so encouraging. Thank you for helping me regain my confidence!!!

Oh and concentrate on the safety aspect of each chapter. The NCLEX is focused on patient safety so professors usually aim their questions toward this as well..

I also failed my first fundamentals test last semester with a 75. I worked hard, figured out how approach critical thinking questions, and finished the class with a B+. Just don't let your first test score discourage you, especially if the majority of the class failed. Keep working hard, study the text book, and make flash cards!! You'll do fine if you keep at it :)

You have no idea how much better you just made me feel. Thank you for sharing your story! No one in my clinical group has experienced feeling faint yet so I felt kind of alone in my experience. I actually asked the nurse who made that comment to find me whenever he has a catheter to pull so I can continue to watch and get used to it--that threw him for a loop haha. Thanks again!!!

It makes me feel better knowing that I'm not alone in my experience. It was embarrassing and made me feel like I won't be able to handle anything. Next clinical I'll be more prepared, especially in the sleeping and eating department. I told the nurse who was smirking/laughing at me that I want to observe every catheter he has to remove, hopefully I'll eventually be able to tolerate it with more exposure.

I'm a second year nursing student, and am currently in my med surg rotation at clinicals. The hospital I'm in now is much more exciting and learning oriented than the previous hospital I had been in. That being said, I'm seeing a lot more than I ever have. Yesterday, I was watching a nurse remove a catheter from a patient's jugular vein in the cardiac step-down unit. I was ok at first, but as she was putting pressure on the neck I started to feel dizzy. I tried to think about other things and looked away from the patient, but that didn't help. I began to fall over and almost blacked out. Luckily my friend was standing next to me and got me in a chair before that happened. I had one of those ensure nutrition drinks and a few scoops of cereal pre-clinical, and only had 3 hours of sleep, but I think the actual removal was what made me faint. Afterwards, one of the nurses was smirking at me and said something like "idk, that's like a sailor being afraid of water." This obviously didnt help my confidence at all as I was already second guessing myself. Has anyone else ever experienced something like this?? Is there hope to get over it? I'm just scared it will keep happening..