Will I have to deal with a lot of blood in nursing school?

Nursing Students Pre-Nursing

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So I am really thinking about applying to my local nursing program. I have already worked in the health care field (dental assistant) and know I want to stay in this field. I just want to do something other than teeth, lol. Anyways, I can't seem to find a really good answer on whether or not RN students have to deal with tons of blood in nursing school? I can handle a scrape or a small cut that is dripping blood I just can't handle an arm being ripped off and seeing the blood and the bone...

I have also considered just doing the LVN program and working in a nursing home or somewhere outside of the hospital. Would this be better for me since I can't handle much blood? I seem to be fine with everything else (vomit, poop, saliva, etc.) its just a lot of blood at once my body seems to go crazy and makes me a little dizzy. I live in California by the way so I am not sure how different the RN programs are throughout the country.

Specializes in Emergency/Trauma/LDRP/Ortho ASC.

When I was in nursing school a classmate and I were ambulating my pt to the bathroom when his recent abdominal incision dehisced. Exposed intestines obviously.

nursing home=complex stage 4 pressure ulcer with exposed bone.

just some food for thought.

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I was told "you have the brains, the stomach will follow." I hope that is the case because vomit makes me pretty squeamish.

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Specializes in CVOR, CVICU/CTICU, CCRN.

It really depends on your clinical rotations and patient assignments. My Dialysis, ER/Trauma, OB, and OR rotations had plenty of blood-letting to go around. I will say that blood and guts is something I thrive on, but that's not true for everyone. You may (or may not) acclimate to 3-4 units' worth of blood on the floor during a trauma and getting it all over your gown and gloves as you hold pressure to multiple wounds, but that's something only you can decide.

I might suggest shadowing a nurse in one of the above-mentioned specialties, and see if it's something you will be able to handle during nursing school.

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Specializes in ICU.

Very simply, yes. It's kind of part of the job as you will be the first line of patient care. When caring for some in the hospital, they are not there because they are healthy. They got things wrong with them and it usually amounts to some type of blood.

Im not sure why you thought it wouldn't. It's nursing. You know the two things I don't like. Loose hair on other people, and mucus. I know loose hair, right?? Even my own, I have a hard time with and I found out I'm not alone in that. But, in clinical so far, I have dealt with it just fine. One time I thought I was going to lose my cookies over mucus. But it was a nurse that hated students and was trying to be particularly gross to us and well, I won't go there with what she did. But I've dealt with mucus fine ever since that and even did some suctioning last week. No biggie.

But yes, you will deal with blood, and chances are you will be fine. If not, find another profession.

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Specializes in Private Duty Pediatrics.

I can deal with blood just fine, as long as I don't have to see the trauma happen. That is, I can bandage a smashed thumb, but I can't watch it getting smashed. I can easily help someone with a bloody nose, but I can't stay and watch a fight. Taking care of someone who is coughing up blood would not be a problem, although I would of course protect myself with gloves, mask, etc.

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