Who else has passed out?

Ceeceenumber3 · Oct 18, 2009

I was just reading about this yesterday... blood is one of the only 'fears' that people pass out with - b/c your blood pressure rises (like all other fears) and then falls (unlike other fears). This blood pressure falling is what gets people. I read some tips on how to prevent it - how to relax with deep breathing but also tense up body parts so as to keep your blood pressure from dipping too low...

I do a similar thing to help with 'sea sickness' on the water - tense up my stomach and then I don't get as nauseous. Maybe this'll help you...

Good luck!

tnlally · Oct 18, 2009

I almost passed out a few times when I was in nursing school. Someone taught me to sit with my head between my legs and get someone to hand you a wet wash cloth to put on the back of your neck. It always stopped me from completely passing out.

schack · Oct 18, 2009

My first OR rotation in Nursing school put me on the floor. An A-line was started and the doc says watch- it spurts with each heart beat. As the blood spurted at my face I had to back up and sit against the wall. Only time I have every had to sit. Found out that Doc likes to try that with all the new nursing students!! Some tips I used after.. always eat something. Watch the tip of mask you use- to little air and you'll go down. You should try different styles of masks. I absolutely can not use the face masks with the elastic band in the back makes me lighted headed everytime! Good luck. It gets better.

DrCOVID, DNP · Oct 18, 2009

First and last time i was in OR, man was getting an anal fistula repair. The anesthetist sucked so the man was still able to feel his buttocks when they started the procedure. I watched as foot long needles were plunged in and out of his butt. He started moaning and one time after a needle came out some blood squirted onto one of the physicians face masks (the one I felt most deserved it). I can remember the exact sensations but I got light headed/nauseated and had to sit down. I never completely collapsed but had to leave the room, eat something, and I returned for another procedure and was fine.

Sun_danc3rRN · Oct 18, 2009

I passed out once while I was in school. I apparently forgot to eat or drink anything for my shift, and went down hard. I woke up getting iv D50..not a pleasant experience, and very embarrassing. Now that I am a Nurse. I remember to take 5 seconds and make sure I get some sugar, and some protein in. I have heard that passing out while in the OR is not only from the gross out factor, but from locking your knees without realizing it. Make sure you move around a little bit, shift your weight, and unlock your knees.

ellakate · Oct 18, 2009

I had to take my OCs at bedtime. Before my OR rotation I took them in the AM. The nausea was reduced some for me.

AngelfireRN, MSN, RN, APRN · Oct 18, 2009

Oh, honey...I passed out COLD giving my first shot in nursing school. I did great drawing it up and popping it in, but something about watching it come back out just did it for me. I managed to hand the needle to my prof, and BOOM! The poor patient caught me. Turned out, he was afraid of needles, but he didn't even think about it that day. I woke up to my ENTIRE class staring at me.

I recovered and gave 2 more shots.

Today, I am an NP, and venipuncture/injections are my strongest points. You'll be OK. It happens to almost everyone.

Jamesdotter · Oct 18, 2009

The one and only time was when I was an aid, before I started nursing school. I was invited to watch a twin delivery (the mom was cool with my being there).

The first twin's birth was fascinating, but when the doc put a gauntlet on, and went in to turn the second twin, the room started to close in and get dark. I was able to leave the room though and didn't black out entirely.

freefalr · Oct 19, 2009

(re: above post: jiminies, pat pat. you really have been there, done that...some really upsetting things. i just wanted to say thank you for handling those unthinkable things [with grace, i'm certain], and that i'm sorry that you had to.)

des, please don't be embarrassed. it has happened to many of us, as you can tell from the above posts! i vagal fairly easily, too, always have.

being in nursing school, you are probably not taking super good care of yourself (at least i didn't, when i was a student...got really anemic, pica for ice, all around puny). don't forget to hydrate well (i know, you don't want to have to pee when in the o.r.! :>) and eat something in the morning, even when you're not particularly hungry. it's the basics, yes, but it really does help. like the other posters said!

and thank you, jopacurn, for mentioning the alcohol swabs. we used to use them for dialysis patients with nausea, and my awesome pacu nurses (i just had surgery) used them for me when i was nauseated, and it helped quite a bit.

hang in there, des! :) pay attention to how you're feeling, and at the first sign of not feeling a-ok, take care of yourself (see above posters' advice). :)

Pat_Pat RN · Oct 19, 2009

I'm still at a loss as to the alcohol swabs. Do you just smell of it?

dragonic83 · Oct 19, 2009

I did not read all post so I apologize if this is repeating.

When in an OR I was always told never to lock your knees it may look goofy but rock back and forth with your knees to keep the blood flowing when you lock up you have a higher chance to pass out. Try to find some ways to keep various body parts moving to keep blood pumping.

I always had trouble because I wear classes with the surgical mask. I am sure there are other 4 eyed nurses out there who have had the dread fogged up glasses thing going on.

Nightingale11 · Oct 19, 2009

I wear glasses :) I used some kind of mask that was anifog, it didnt have an eyeshield though and tied around my head. I enjoyed the experience and OR nursing looked appealing. They didnt look stressed out like a hospital would. I blacked out completely but I didnt lock my knees, I knew not to do that.

I do not have depression. I just worry too much about everything. I normally eat like 2 meals a day because breakfast just isnt my thing. Im 4'11 and 95 pounds so I dont have a big appetite. I was prescribed prozac when I was 16 because I developed stomach ulcers. I just didnt like the way it made me feel, I had no emotions.