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Discussion

Vasovagal Syncope

Hi,

I just feel the need to vent a bit...

I'm in the process of finding a new nursing job and during a job shadow/interview I ended up fainting during a colostomy bag change. I believe my triggers were the smell, the hot room and standing for a long time not moving (as I was shadowing).

It was very embarrassing and I need a good job. The nurse I was following ended up actually catching me and lowering me to the ground, I think I lost consciousness but it was only for a couple seconds right before the other nurse grabbed me.

Normally nothing grosses me out and I didn't feel grossed out mentally in ANY WAY at the smell of a colostomy bag change, but the moment I smelled what I did my stomach got queasy and a bit later I got very very dizzy. I am frustrated that my body decided it couldn't handle the standing, heat and smell when mentally it didn't bother me at all. It feels like I'm a failure already and this just takes the cake. I've had three jobs in the past eight months, one I had to quit because I dealt with combative mentally ill residents at a State Treatment Facility that I just couldn't take anymore, another I had to resign because I couldn't give a certain shot for religious reasons and my last one I had to quit because there was nursing home abuse going on that was not being handled appropriately (I took necessary legal action and the family is aware) and then was mocked by administration for wanting to at least separate the worker in question from the resident pending conclusion of an investigation to the point where I ended up crying, twice.

Fainting has happened once before, again during an RA job shadowing where I had to stand without moving in a very hot room. I don't have any problems if I'm moving around and for two years after this first incident I was able to go into that room and not have any problems just because I was able to keep busy. Now I'm wondering if maybe this is just a sign that I shouldn't be a nurse...I think I can handle myself but then something like this happens where I literally can't trust my body. What if my hands are full, something triggers this, and now I'm the only nurse on the floor and I'm down and out? Does anyone else have this problem? Were you able to overcome it? I tried leg tightening for circulation and that might have bought me some time but ultimately if I have to leave and sit down outside the room during a colostomy bag change as my resident is laying on their bed with an open stoma...should I even be a nurse??? I don't want to hurt anybody, that's the main reason I became a nurse -to HEAL THEM. I feel so awful.

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    • Featured Replies

    I honestly don't think fainting two times is a deal breaker to working as a nurse.

    Now that you are aware of the triggers you will have time to take "evasive action" have "situational awareness". Know that you are feeling hot, or are in a hot room, that you are standing still, not moving you legs, not keeping the blood pumping to the brain, etc. I can't think of many situations where you couldn't step out the door for a moment, splash some cool water on your face, just sit down a few minutes, and let the feeling pass.

    I fainted twice before I was a nurse, and came close twice after I became a nurse. The close calls I was able to sit on those large plastic trash cans for a few minutes and was fine. Two almost faints in a 34 year career ain't bad, are probably pretty normal!

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    I don't think you need to worry about the fainting so much as this part: "another I had to resign because I couldn't give a certain shot for religious reasons", the first problem with that is that there are no shots where there is a valid religious objection, and even if there was employers don't have to accommodate that and would likely be very wary of your history of imposing your religious beliefs on your patients, not to mention your license which I've seen other nurses get suspended for this sort of thing.

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    Now that you are aware of the triggers you will have time to take "evasive action" have "situational awareness". Know that you are feeling hot, or are in a hot room, that you are standing still, not moving you legs, not keeping the blood pumping to the brain, etc. I can't think of many situations where you couldn't step out the door for a moment, splash some cool water on your face, just sit down a few minutes, and let the feeling pass.

    ^Good answer!!^

    You could also keep alcohol wipes in your pocket. The smell of alcohol might jolt you out. "Smelling salts" or ammonia are probably not realistic things to keep with you.

    Also, when all is said and done, you might want to let them know that it's not the colostomy bag that's the problem, but the other variables. Hang in there.

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    • Author

    MunoRN: Abortifacients. I can't give shots that for therapeutic reasons cause an abortion. For example, the depo-pro shot.

    So yes, it does interfere with my being a practicing Catholic if I give a shot that was intended to stop fertilization and kill fertilized eggs. We believe in life at conception, so I kill a fertilized egg I end up killing a baby.

    Also, "history of imposing your religious beliefs on your patients"?? In what way? I'm removing myself from giving anything that would put me in the position to administer anything against my religious beliefs and in so doing how would I even be talking with patients to 'impose' my religious beliefs on them?

    You're kind of a butt.

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    MunoRN: Abortifacients. I can't give shots that for therapeutic reasons cause an abortion. For example, the depo-pro shot.

    Please provide a link to a scientific study proving as much.

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