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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

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:
Twyford · 07/08/2023 21:50

If, as a patient, the HCP to whom I was talking fainted whilst talking to me, I would just assume they were unwell. I certainly wouldn't think it unprofessional.

Twyford · 07/08/2023 21:53

If your boss wants to tell you not to do it again, do ask him to explain exactly how.

SinnerBoy · 07/08/2023 21:54

magentapink3 · Yesterday 09:21

Sorry just to make it clear- he won’t be making it an official disciplinary situation, it will be an off the record ‘don’t do it again’ type chat.

Don't faint again? What bloody planet does the idiot live on? I'd be making sure that you felt fine, asking what support you might need and insisting that you go to the doctor, on work time, if necessary!

Have you got any sort of representation? He's 100% unreasonable and totally out of order. What a wanker!

tt9 · 07/08/2023 22:00

Fraaahnces · 06/08/2023 09:09

Good grief! Can you ask exactly how you could have fainted professionally? I’m an ex opera singer. I could teach you. What an idiotic reason for a meeting!
Ask them to put this in writing and send to your union.

I would love to know how to do this! I know ladies in previous centuries were always fainting .... would be super convenient to be able to get out of all sorts of situations!

TheWayoftheLeaf · 07/08/2023 22:02

Olivia199 · 06/08/2023 09:43

I had this discussion with an old (horrible) boss years ago in the health care environment. She was claiming it would be unprofessional to faint at work.

Her point was that it's your responsibility to have eaten breakfast and have adequate fluid intake etc. So if you've fainted because you've not eaten, you should have taken steps to mitigate that by ensuring you DID eat. She also claimed if you came into work unwell and fainted then it's your fault for not recognising you weren't fit for practice. (However lets be honest, they're the first people to bitch and moan about your sickness if you do stay home!!) Though this was the same boss who gave me a bollocking for wearing scrubs mid shift, after I'd been thrown up on. Apparently I should have planned my uniform better? I normally kept a spare in my locker but I had three sets and did three long days in a row so I didn't... this sort of explains what she was like as a boss!

Ultimately sometimes it just happens, it's horrible and makes you feel rubbish but it can't be helped. I'd hope the meeting is about checking youre okay. Though they may ask things like whether you've been eating and drinking appropriately.

Wishing you all the best and hope you're feeling better. Ultimately its a medical concern, not a conduct concern! They should be supporting you and I'd take it above their head if they don't. I'd also very much have the come back of "and how does one faint professionally" ready.

Good luck!

I can faint in perfectly health having just eaten. Happens to me fairly often.

EekGoesTheBaby · 07/08/2023 22:31

Very unprofessional! You did not schedule the faint at least 2 weeks in advance. You did not fill out the Fainting Request Form. Even in an emergency, you should have at least fainted onto a pile of helpful brochures to direct the patient to them.

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