Will my fear affect my becoming a nurse

Nursing Students Pre-Nursing

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I have a severe aversion to my own blood. I get woozy and will pass out if I don't stop doing what I'm doing. In anatomy lab, we did hematocrits and nothing bothered me, except a little nervousness, until it was time to do my own. I could even handle a finger prick and putting blood in a capillary tube. I don't know how to overcome this, but I really want to. I want to take care of babies and children, but I feel like I need to get over this first. I have no idea how, and I suppose I'm just looking for encouragement. Will I be able to make it?

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i think you'll be okay. i deal with my slight claustrophobia by ignoring it and moving on. take a deep breath, and mentally suck it up. it might help you to watch surgery shows to desensitize you to it. maybe you can visit a slaughter house or watch videos ofthat process. nurses learning phlebotomy need to practice poking people. you might get one of them to practice on you to get you accustomed to seeing blood. i strongly believe all the blood queasiness people talk about is completely curable with the right mind set. fear of flying is overcome by flying.

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I have a similar problem- but not with blood, with shots & needles. I cannot stand to have myself poked or prodded in any way, shape or form (or any member of my family). My grandmother was in the hospital in October and I almost threw up looking at her PICC line. After I shut my finger in a metal door, it took three HUGE male orderlies to hold me down to give me a tetorifice (this was when I was 26- four (4) years ago). The smell of alcohol and the wipe of the swab was enough to send me into hyperventilation.

I've kind of just sucked it up. I have a whole battery of tests (TB, chickenpox titer) and shots (tetorifice, Hep B, etc.) to go through before school starts and I've just started to force myself to watch. It's been a lot less traumatic then I thought.

It's the anticipation that's the issue for me, not the actual procedure- which is over in about 3 seconds (if you have a good nurse). I want to be a good nurse, so I have to be a good patient.

I second the idea of the videos. Maybe don't go slaughterhouse (my grandfather was a cattle dealer so I advise against that), but start small with some "PG" documentaries on TLC or Discovery Health and work up to surgeries. I used to have to hide my eyes behind my fingers, but I find if you just face your fears, they're usually not so bad.

Also, I have a friend who's mom is a nurse. She was able to bring home syringes and needles for me and I provided the oranges and grapefruits. My hands still shake, but if you have an aversion, it may help to get some practice pre-school if at all possible. Maybe donate blood and face your fear while helping people?

Best of luck!

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See, the thing is, I do face my fears. I allow myself to have blood taken and all that stuff, but I still pass out or almost do. I don't know how to keep from it. I think it may be anxiety, but I can't control that.

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If you are female, do you pass out when you are menstruating? (Sorry if this is an inappropriate question!)

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That's fine. No.

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