I want to become a nurse, but I am very squeamish. What can I do to stop?
I'd suggest that you try working in health care (as a PCT or phlebotomist, if possible) to see how you manage. You might surprise yourself.When I first decided to go to nursing school, my sister laughed at me and told me I was far too squeamish to manage that. But what I found was that it is possible to get used to blood and vomit and various gory things. As a nurse, you've got more to worry about than how disgusting something looks. You're busy keeping track of details, e.g. estimating blood loss, trying not to scare the patient, deciding how serious the situation is and whether you need to treat it as an emergency, figuring out how to describe it in your nursing notes, etc.Not all nurses are comfortable with all gory situations, either. There's no getting around the fact that you'll sometimes have to deal with some pretty unpleasant sights and smells, but some nursing specialties are less prone to such things than others.
Does EMT training make you not squeamish, or if I'm squeamish will I never be able to be an EMT?
I had always been squeamish about blood. It was embarrassing. I mean real squeamish.I had no plans to work on an ambulance. I was taking the emt course because my employer was paying for it. It was going to get me a raise, recognition and probably promoted.During some of the circulatory system lecture in emt school I would have to go outside for air. I would get woozy just talking or thinking about blood.Before you can apply for the county emt exam (here anyway) you must do a min. of 8 hours (ER) clinical and 8 hours field (ambulance). I did the ER time at a local trauma center on a Friday night. I was surprised that I was able to handle some of the bloody scenes that night and even help clean and bandage some severe tissue injuries.When I met the EMT crew for my 8 hour ride along, I was informed that this a BLS ambulance that very seldom responded to actual emergencies even if they were 911 calls, they had been screened as BLS level. Most calls would be non emergency inter-facility type calls.8 hours later we had not done a single non=emergency call. We had mostly responded to 911 calls determined to be BLS level. Two of these had resulted in code three transports with acute patients. We had responded code three twice to traffic accidents. I was standing by the ambulance outside an ER waiting for the crew when a car pulled up and stopped long enough to pull a women (not breathing) out and dump her at my feet.I LOVED IT.I WAS GOOD AT IT.I NEVER LOOKED BACK.You might be too!
Your experience in nursing school and on the job?
I'm a junior in high school, and looking to nursing school when I get to university, and perhaps midwifery. I always hear mixed reactions about nursing school and on the job experience. I know nursing is hard, and I don't want to have a romanticized thought in my head, so feel free is disillusion me. Pros and cons? Your favorite thing about nursing? Least favorite? Have you ever considered switching to other professions? Are other nurses nice or mean? Do you see yourself doing this for a long time? Are you bogged down by paper work? Working with patients?? Anything!!
Is there any nursing jobs that don't require sticking people with needles?
regardless of the job, just during school learning to be a nurse you have to stick people with needles. In my class as a medical assistant we had to practice on each other, I had some sore arms! You have to learn to give subq's (back fleshy part of arm) and Intramuscular in the arm and hip so you'll be doing a lot of sticking! Plus on top of that you'll have to learn to give blood draws and IV's. If you are squeamish about it and you really have a desire to be a nurse, you'll probably get over it by the time you're ready to work.
I feel like I might be too dumb for nursing school ..?
In your case, since you've been out of school for so many years, and you have young children, starting out slowly is probably best. Instead of trying to jump right into a Bachelor's Degree Program, sign up at a Community College for the Certified Nursing Assistant (CNA) Program. This is a short program, requiring far fewer classes, and believed to be much easier. If you can get through that and you like the work you do in your Clinicals, then you can apply for the Associate of Science in Nursing (ASN) Program and sit the exam for licensure as a Registered Nurse (RN). Once you've been out working for a year or two, you can find a university that offers a Bridge Program- RN to BSN, which stand for Bachelor of Science in Nursing Program. If you really love Nursing, you can take it a step further yet, and get a Master's Degree as an Advanced Practice Nurse.
Can you ask the nurse/phlabotomist to numb your arm before drawing blood?
I can't believe how rude people are being. Some people have a genuine fear of needles - like people fear snakes or heights. Don't make her feel ashamed or stupid. And she didn't ask you to compare it to labor pains - it is a fear of needles. Sheesh!! First of all, you are fine and you have a common fear. When you go in for a blood test, tell them your fears. I am certain they deal with it everyday and may have some ways to comfort you - and you can see if they having a numbing cream. I can honestly tell you, getting your blood drawn shouldn't hurt more than the TB test. Just don't look because that is the scariest part. It is just a tiny pinch and once the needle is in, you won't even feel it while they draw the blood. The most important part is not to look and it will be over in seconds. Yes, you will have your blood drawn a lot when pregnant, but look at it as a way to help get over your fear. Hopefully it gets a little easier every time. I was nervous the first time, but now I don't get at all nervous. Best of luck with your pregnancy.
How do nurses deal with seeing injuries/blood? I want to be a nurse who works in an emergency room, but right now I cringe when I see people break bones or bleed. How did you (any nurses) get over the feeling of not wanting to look at an injury?
Funny story, not really, but keep reading…….Our dialysis unit often has student nurses rotate thru, observation only. They are usually not well prepped for their visit and know nothing about the procedure of dialysis. It’s normally not a problem because they are never coming back.Dialysis patients are not squeamish folks, either are the staff. We use large, stainless steel needles and work in an environment where blood is spilled and circulated and clotted…..without giving it a second thought.A third year nursing student arrived, introduced herself, read the rules, etc. Shortly after, she hit the floor! Completely unconscious! When she regained consciousness, she was escorted out the door. Hopefully, counseled to choose a different career path.I don’t really know if that is something you can overcome. Personally, I have never been bothered. But you should know it gets really bad out there sometimes, much worse than a broken bone or a bleed.Perhaps, job shadow before making a decision! Or try it, there is always a different area to transfer or specialize in. Also, you might expose yourself gradually, instead of all at once.Just keep in mind, nobody wants to be the nurse who passed out from the sight of blood, try living that one down! He, he! Kidding!! ;)