Fainted at first shadow

[jordlaw]

Hello,

I am graduating in December with a B.S. in health science and applying to PA programs for the following cycle. I currently am interning in a cardiac rehabilitation department and have been a pharmacy technician for the past 2 years. I feel I am competitive but wanted to get as much shadow time as possible before I apply in June. My first shadow was this past week, I shadowed a P.A. in the ER of the hospital I work. I was very excited and nervous. We saw a few patients; simple pain/ect nothing too crazy. Then we were asked by an MD to suture a drunk man's head as he fell and cracked it open in the back. I have never had a problem with blood/needles/fainting in my life. I watched him clean the wound and take away the dried blood fine. He began inserting the lidocane in the wound when I felt dizzy. I did not want to seem weak or embarrass myself but before I knew it he was walking me to a chair. So embarassing. He told me it was normal, not to worry. I am worried though. I take my application seriously and want to make sure I will succeed. I would love to shadow again but am so nervous I will have the same reaction. I have been youtubing suturing/local anesthesia to desensitive myself to it. Do you think what I experienced was at all normal and do you have any suggestions on my next shadow?

Thank you!
Jordan

[PaulK]

Yes, Jordan, totally normal. Scalps are very vascular and bleed like mad. The heat and excitement and stress of an ER can cause a vasovagal reaction (google that, you'll learn a lot). As you get more used to the setting you should be less vulnerable to them. There are some people who never overcome them, but it's rare. We had students pass out in surgical rotations, and one during our first pelvic exam with a real patient (not me!)

We have an article on it by the way (hey, we have an article on everything, right?)

Click here to read about fainting at the sight of blood.

[jordlaw]

Thank you so much. I really appreciate it. I read the other post as well!