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Original poster

Would you judge me? Was i unprofessional?

131 replies

magentapink3 · 06/08/2023 09:03

would you consider this unprofessional/would you be annoyed at this?

if you were in a healthcare appointment (not whilst getting an invasive or risky treatment btw, and during the talking part of the appointment eg whilst explaining things during a podiatrist, audiologist, optician, dietician etc) and the healthcare professional fainted, would you complain or consider it unprofessional? And if you were the collegues of the healthcare professional would you think that person should be embarrassed at all or would you judge them for it?

Just for further context- I’m the healthcare professional and fainted. It was mid conversation and realised I really wasn’t well so I said to the patient excuse me I’m sorry I’m going to go and get someone else (so I could go out quickly and get some air as I thought I was maybe just hot!) and I stood up and whilst walking out I fainted to the floor. I’ve never done it before, the patient was lovely about it and was seen by a different colleague and all was fine but I went home from work afterwards and I’m back tomorrow and I’ve been scheduled a meeting with my slightly scary boss to discuss how unprofessional it was. I just wanted to ask here to gauge some opinions on whether I was unprofessional etc and should prepare for a bollocking or not!

OP posts:
FloofCloud · 06/08/2023 14:19

Wow, I'd be putting a complaint in if he tried to say not to do that again! It's not something you have control over 🙄 stupid man!

ActDottie · 06/08/2023 14:22

I mean wtf??? You can’t help fainting! Your boss sounds like an arsehole.

Scaraben · 06/08/2023 14:53

Jeez. Your boss sounds like a prat.

A warning though - this happened to me as a HCP and I got a very loosely concealed grilling on whether or not I might be pregnant. Because that was the only reason he could think a 25yr old woman might faint. Sigh. There were lots of oblique questions about if I'd have any more appointments coming up....

Takacupokindnessyet · 06/08/2023 15:03

You don't always get much warning when taken ill in this way, so not much more you could have done unless you knew you were ill and should have phoned in sick.

LightSpeeds · 06/08/2023 15:07

It's not unprofessional at all (maybe record that meeting with her).

If I were your manager, I'd be wanting to check that you were ok and that it wasn't part of anything underlying or more serious.

I am a consummate fainter (soooooo many embarrassing situations). It's not a nice experience...

Hibiscrubbed · 06/08/2023 15:53

I wouldn’t find it unprofessional. But I privebly wouldn’t want them in charge of my care again.

NeedToChangeName · 06/08/2023 18:06

MolkosTeenageAngst · 06/08/2023 10:14

Why were you so hungry and thirsty you fainted? Are you purposefully skipping meals? Are you not getting breaks at work? I don’t think it’s ‘unprofessional’ to faint but if it’s happening because you’re missing basic self-care (eating, drinking) then I don’t think it’s unreasonable for your boss to want to find out why. If it’s because you don’t get a break then it’s in him to change it, if it’s because you’re skipping meals it’s on you to eat and not put yourself in that position again. I think it’s okay to want to look at why you were so hungry/ thirsty/ tired/ hot you fainted at work and try and avoid it happening again as those are mostly preventable factors that could be avoided in future.

@MolkosTeenageAngst agree with this

LightlySearedontheRealityGrill · 06/08/2023 23:17

A manager calling fainting 'unprofessional' is what is unprofessional. They need to be referred to manager training.

Olivia199 · 07/08/2023 19:32

How did it go?

Stompythedinosaur · 07/08/2023 19:40

It's not unprofessional to faint! You couldn't help it!

I'm a nurse if many years experience and I fainted once when newly qualified in the middle of an ECT clinic when I was meant to be escorting a patient. These things happen!

Do you have something in writing, such as an email, saying your manager wants to discuss the incident being unprofessional? If so, as for HR and your Union rep to be present.

Thelonelygiraffe · 07/08/2023 19:48

Of course it's not unprofessional! You can't help fainting. I hope you're ok now.

Mmhmmn · 07/08/2023 20:58

magentapink3 · 06/08/2023 09:03

would you consider this unprofessional/would you be annoyed at this?

if you were in a healthcare appointment (not whilst getting an invasive or risky treatment btw, and during the talking part of the appointment eg whilst explaining things during a podiatrist, audiologist, optician, dietician etc) and the healthcare professional fainted, would you complain or consider it unprofessional? And if you were the collegues of the healthcare professional would you think that person should be embarrassed at all or would you judge them for it?

Just for further context- I’m the healthcare professional and fainted. It was mid conversation and realised I really wasn’t well so I said to the patient excuse me I’m sorry I’m going to go and get someone else (so I could go out quickly and get some air as I thought I was maybe just hot!) and I stood up and whilst walking out I fainted to the floor. I’ve never done it before, the patient was lovely about it and was seen by a different colleague and all was fine but I went home from work afterwards and I’m back tomorrow and I’ve been scheduled a meeting with my slightly scary boss to discuss how unprofessional it was. I just wanted to ask here to gauge some opinions on whether I was unprofessional etc and should prepare for a bollocking or not!

It is most definitely NOT unprofessional. Hope you're OK. Remember to eat and drink!

Toohardtofindaproperusername · 07/08/2023 21:07

has your boss used the word 'unprofessional' to you? I'd be livid if i was you, and i'd want nothing other than to know he is concerned about you and your wellbeing at this point in time. And once that is clear, that he thinks about working conditions that lead to you fainting.

Is this the NHS or private/other healthcare? How do you feel going into hte meeting? Pllease know for sure that there is absolutely NOHTING unprofessional about fainting at work - there is something about working conditions and presssures that may mean you negelcted to notice the signs before they hit you, which is important for you to do, for you and for patients, but my concern as a manager first and foremost would be you, and what lead to that, that needs to be addressed so that YOU are ok.

Shocking if you are in any way nervous about meeting your boss to talk through that incident. Please make mental notes duirng, and written notes afterwards. it's a kind of gaslighting if you end up thinking the fault is yours in the current pressures and working envts we are all dealing with.

Toohardtofindaproperusername · 07/08/2023 21:09

Stompythedinosaur · 07/08/2023 19:40

It's not unprofessional to faint! You couldn't help it!

I'm a nurse if many years experience and I fainted once when newly qualified in the middle of an ECT clinic when I was meant to be escorting a patient. These things happen!

Do you have something in writing, such as an email, saying your manager wants to discuss the incident being unprofessional? If so, as for HR and your Union rep to be present.

This. i'd probably not take union rep in right now, my approach woudl be to attend, and to listen and not give anything away, and to go away and write notes.

But if boss had said or written anything about 'unprofessional' .. i'd be very alert and on top form in respect of being quiet and listneing, and letting them hang themselves .. it's shocking approach

Fundays12 · 07/08/2023 21:11

Absolutely not you can't help fainting. I would be concerned for you.

UndercoverCop · 07/08/2023 21:13

I would hope the only reason he would ask to speak with you, would be to check your welfare and to reassure you that no matter how busy you must take breaks to eat/drink, that your health is crucial, can't pour from an empty cup etc and to check if you needed an OH referral or had any ongoing health concerns that might need supporting in the workplace.

Testina · 07/08/2023 21:14

Minority here, but I think it’s unprofessional to not eat and drink enough to be able to deliver care, and you say you think that was part of the reason.
As the client I wouldn’t know that though so would just feel sorry for you and hope you were OK.

SkinnyMalinkyLankyLegs · 07/08/2023 21:17

It's not unprofessinal in the slightest. You took unwell. If I were the patient, the only thing I'd be is concerned about is you and if you were ok. And as a HCP myself, if you were my colleague, again I'd be concerned and simply want to know you were OK and if there was any support you needed

Alexandra2001 · 07/08/2023 21:20

My DD left the NHS after 18months to work in Australia, the final straw was being put on a disciplinary for too much time off sick... 3 Covid infections and one Flu, all contracted in the hospital setting.

Far happier in Aus.

NHS is a joke now, over managed and under funded in the areas that matter.

tiredofthenoise · 07/08/2023 21:21

My first reaction would be concern for the person who fainted. After I'd given it some thought, I think I probably wouldn't want that person operating on me or performing any other delicate procedure, tbh. I'd be fine seeing them again if they were just doing routine examinations, making recommendations, etc.

Jifmicroliquid · 07/08/2023 21:22

You poor thing! You weren’t unprofessional, you were poorly!
If I were your patient I would have been so worried about you and would just hope you were ok.

I often feel faint if I get too hot. Even if I’ve eaten and drank, temperature changes really affect me.

I hope you are feeling better xx

Tilllly · 07/08/2023 21:23

How was the meeting @magentapink3 ?

thereisnorightanswer · 07/08/2023 21:27

Any manager who thinks their staff fainting is unprofessional is a muppet.

Fainting is a thing you do when you're unwell. It's not always a symptom of something serious or long-term - it can be caused very something very simple and avoidable (like not eating) - but it's not something you consciously do.

Anyone who judges someone on how professional they are based on their health is bloody ridiculous, and I wouldn't give them the time of day.

If you fainted in an appointment with me, I would be concerned for you, because as well being a healthcare professional, you're another human being, and it's normal to feel concerned about fellow human beings who unexpectedly black out!

If the reason for you fainting was because you hadn't eaten/drunk, I still wouldn't find you unprofessional. Instead, I'd feel cross at the NHS (I assume you're NHS!) for putting you in that position. You're not the first and you won't be the last to not have time between patients to look after yourself properly. I think it's scandalous. Not you. The system. You should have more breaks and you should get paid more. And you certainly shouldn't be working to the point where you faint from a lack of self-care.

RLmadmum · 07/08/2023 21:36

Hope the meeting went okay OP! As a manager in a health care setting, my main concern would be the health of the staff member because nobody chooses to faint unless they're Gillian McKeith. If I received any kind of complaint from the patient in regards to this, they would be 'respectfully' shot down.

Then again, I had a standoff with a lady who was absolutely furious that we couldn't let her park in a particular spot. Because another person was lying in that spot after being knocked over by a reversing car and we were waiting for an ambulance to attend because she was seriously injured... God forbid she parked in the empty spots...

eatdrinkandbemerry · 07/08/2023 21:40

It's hardly unprofessional it's not something you can control 🤷‍♀️.
I go through phases of fainting and I fainted in my sons playground the other month while waiting for him to be dismissed.
I scared a few parents but was back on my feet with in seconds 😂.