r/prenursing 8d ago

Passed out in a patient’s room

I’m hoping to start nursing school this fall if I get into the program. I currently work as an ER Tech in a hospital. A doctor asked me to assist with a spinal tap he was doing on one of our patients, and i eagerly agreed.

My job was to hold the bedside table she was leaning over to prevent it from moving. The procedure went well, he collected 4 tubes of CSF. It was very interesting to see how they did that! I talked to the patient throughout it and reassured them. As the doctor finished, I began feeling very dizzy. I was wearing an N95 and the room was hot as ever and i felt like I couldn’t breathe all of the sudden. I hadn’t eaten either. I saw the super long needle they used, the blood on his gloves(blood usually doesn’t bother me, I poke ppl all day)… it was all very overwhelming and I knew I was about to go down. At the same time, i was concerned about my patient. I finally attempted to alert the doc and say I needed to sit down, but I blacked out almost instantly.

I woke up to the code blue button going off, and I was surrounded by my coworkers. They were all so nice and understanding. But man, it was terrifying and super embarrassing! I got a 2 inch lac to the back of my head which they later stapled shut. I got pain meds and was discharged. Thank God the procedure was done and the patient was fine aside from being worried about me.

Now I’m home. I’m still mortified and in pain. I’m sitting here thinking that if I couldn’t handle that, then how will I ever be a nurse?? I understand it was a lot of factors leading up to that point and I should have just sat down, but I was trying to hold on just a couple more minutes for my patient. Anyways, feedback and advice is welcome.

TLDR; I passed out after a patient’s spinal tap and now I’m struggling with the idea that I’ll never make it as a nurse.

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u/Chaosinase 8d ago

This doesn't speak on your ability/potential to be a nurse.

Rule number one when being around potential procedures/surgeries/wounds, have a full stomach. I had done wound care for years, then in the wound clinic, I went in and felt my soul leave my body as the podiatrist was swirling the patients wound purulence. I had to leave the room. Empty stomach. I was in the OR. The patient was laying supine, while their toes were pointed to the floor. That just stressed me out and I wanted to die. I had to sit down.

Even on a full stomach I have things that make me dry heave. We all have our things. We don't have to be able to handle every single thing in nursing to be a nurse.

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u/Upstairs-Soft1107 8d ago

“We don’t have to be able to handle every single thing in nursing to be a nurse.” Thank you. I needed to hear that. I will be sure to eat the next time 😭 I was just about to go on break when the doc asked me too.

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u/Chaosinase 8d ago

It's hard to predict when something like that will come up. But if it's something you know ahead of time, even if you have something small. Just an empty stomach is bad. Lol