Who else has passed out?

[Nightingale11]

I'm in my 2nd quarter of nursing school. (6 quarter program) I was in the OR and watched 1 surgery and as soon as it was over, I felt awful. I tried to breathe different, think about something else but couldn't fight it. I went to the nurse and said I didnt feel good and needed to sit down. She put my head down and after that I woke up in the hall on a stretcher.

I do not want this happening again and was wondering if there's any tips/tricks to avoid doing this again.

[Straydandelion]

I was told at one point that it is closely related to http://www.dizziness-and-balance.com/disorders/medical/orthostatic.html .. slow, deep breaths and instead of standing perfectly still try shifting your weight from one foot to the other. Others may have more ideas for you however.

[DLS_PMHNP, MSN, RN, NP]

I'm 3 for 3 in (almost) passing out in the OR.. Felt the 'tunnel vision' coming and hit the chair just in time. It doesn't help that I'm claustrophobic and had a mask on.

My best advice to you is to eat a good breakfast that morning, and NEVER lock your knees.

Best to you!

Diane, RN

[mlok]

I almost passed out after giving CPR for the first time. I guess I wasn't breathing properly while I was doing compressions. My legs were locked and I was on my tippy toes because the bed was too high for me. The previous person doing the compressions was taller. I should have asked for a stepping stool. I felt fine while I was doing them until a couple seconds after I switched out. I felt so dizzy, light headed, my vision was even getting blurry, and my skin lost it's color so I had to sit down. I was trying to hide it because I was kind of embarrassed because I was a student.

[Pat_Pat RN]

I've almost passed out twice at work. Luckily neither was during a busy time. Both were in the ER. Neither time did I go down, but once the doctor said, "You don't look good, come in here a lay down...." The second time was just a few weeks ago and the doc was just telling me that he needed "x,y and z" for an I&D of a big post-op hematoma. I've done SOO many I&D's, but his description just made me ill.

I think it is a vaso-vagal response and I'm not sure if there is anything you can do about it. The tips above may help, but sometimes it is inevitable.

ALSO: at my clinicals they said, "If you feel like you are going to pass out, just sit down, wherever you are, just sit down on the floor." Dont' want you falling into the sterile field.

[PostOpPrincess, BSN, RN]

Carry alcohol wipes with you.

[CherryAmes_RN]

@ Pat Pat... thats what they told us too. NEVER on the sterile field lol... and to back up against a wall if possible.

[PICNICRN, BSN, RN]

I was just thinking about this the other day.....

When I was in nursing school, I was 3 of 3 for passing out during my "OR experience"! Normally I took afternoon clinicals because I was not a morning person- first time was a cataract same day surgery anesthesiologist stuck a HUGE needle into the orbit of the old lady that he had just given some versed/fent to.... then he asked her to "follow his finger" and only one eye moved---------------- YUCK! I hit the floor.

Next 2 times were both "same day "surgeries- didn't even make it past the IV insertion in Pre-op--- I chalked it up to being early morning and I had not eaten.

Let me tell you.... as a "real nurse" I had some concerns in starting out in PICU as a new grad because of this- but, I work for a trauma center and have seen some pretty disgusting stuff- even did internal chest compressions my first year as an RN- it comes down to when you are responsible for someone else's life and you have a job to do- somehow, your brain just does it. No queezyness at all. I cannot explain it- your body just does it!

I recommend eating! Also, do not lock your knees, and if you start feeling hot and dizzy- just sit. Don't be embarrassed- OR nurses must deal with this all the time. They will help you.

Since I've been a PICU nurse, I've had a number of students pass out- as well as parents and visitors- it's a lot to take in !

You will be fine! It has happened to the best of us!

[Anisettes, BSN, RN]

I have a couple of times, but not from anything work work-related. I sometimes get runs of SVT and when I feel it coming on, I bear down to 'break it'. A couple of times I've done it so hard that I've vaso-vagal'd myself, LOL. Thank goodness never in front of anybody.

[Pat_Pat RN]

It definatly isn't a "gross" factor for me. I was on the fire department in my home town for 6 years, we did extrication and BLS non-transport EMS. I've hosed people off of highways, bio-bagged heads, scraped gray-matter off the dash of a car to get into the glove box. Not to mention first on the scene for 2 SIDS deaths, one of which we (the father and I) coded till the ambulance got there, a 16 yo who put a bullet through his head on mothersday and a guy about my age who left his wife and two young kids by hanging himself in the basement. So I've been/seen/done the disgusting.

Then there was the old lady who died and fell on the heat register during record low temperatures a couple of winters ago. Someone found her a week later. We had to use SCBA's to get the body out.

[Pat_Pat RN]

Carry alcohol wipes with you.

Will a buzz get you through it??

[regnissik]

OK, so day one of my ob/peds rotation, I am preparing to watch a scheduled c-section. When the nurse anesthestist starts the epidural and warns the patient that she may hear some crunching and feel pressure, and o my, I almost lost myself, cold sweats, dark field of vision with bright stars, I was so almost embarassed. I put my chin on my chest, took some deep breaths, and talked myself right out of it!!!! Thank God! The surgery? Cool as he!!. Loved it! Very interesting, no problems. What a weiner I am.