Can I Be a Nurse if I Am Afraid of Blood?

Many nurses overcome their squeamishness

Do you feel faint at the sight of blood? Do injuries or wounds cause you to feel nauseous? If so, you are not alone. Being afraid of blood and needles is a common fear. If you are considering becoming a nurse, you might be wondering if this might stand in your way.

Can you become a practical nurse or nursing assistant if you are afraid of needles or if you get squeamish at the sight of blood? The answer to this question will depend on you. For many people the answer turns out to be a “yes!” And here’s why:

1. Your training ramps up slowly
During nursing school, you will slowly ramp up to the most difficult tasks. For example, you will practice giving injections by placing the needle in a piece of fruit or by using a dummy. This will get you used to the idea of the needles before ever giving an injection to a person.

2. You may get desensitized over time
Many nurses find that even if they were initially squeamish, they lose their squeamishness over time. The first few times they see a patient who is bleeding, they may feel faint, but if they see it time and again, they get used to it.

3. You can find jobs that don’t involve much blood
Not all nursing jobs involve seeing blood or giving injections. There are jobs that may not involve much patient contact at all, such as jobs in insurance, telephone triage, or education. There are also specialties that may not involve seeing blood frequently, such as long-term care or psychiatric units.

4. You can talk to others to help you overcome your fear
Many nurses have been through the same fears and feelings you may be experiencing. Talking to a more experienced nurse may help you gain confidence and overcome your fears. There are also counselors and psychologists who could help. They may suggest exposure therapy as a way to desensitize yourself to the situations that trigger your fears.

Nursing is a valued and important career, but it’s true that it may not be for everyone. But if you feel passionate about pursuing a career in nursing, you may be able to overcome your fears! Many people have done it, and they feel stronger as a result.

If you are considering this career, why not contact the Salter School of Nursing and Allied Health? The small-school approach that our school can offer may be just the support you need to enter this field with confidence. Located in Manchester, NH, our school offers training for students wishing to become Nursing Assistants, Patient Care Technicians, and Practical Nurses. Contact us online to learn more about enrolling in our program.

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