Yup, sounds like me. There are, however, several years between now and being a graduated, licensed veterinarian to think it over (and just get over the squeamishness). I'm reliably told that all emergency workers vomit the first time, and everybody vomits for the first human autopsy, or the first murder scene, too. It's normal to be squeamish, but eventually, what made you squeamish becomes the new normal. I'm still not over it, but it's becoming more normal and less squeamish. In another decade, I'll probably be fine with dissections and needles and howling puppies and blood and gore and guts. I'm still nauseated during dissections, but it's becoming less an issue of the subject and more just a smell thing. The chemicals used in preserving specimens for dissection just reek like crazy. Not that dissections are the most appetizing of experiences, of course.Blood would always make me weak in the knees and elbows. I'd get lightheaded, feel super nauseous, take hours to recover, that sort of thing. But I'm better about it now, and recovery doesn't take as long anymore. It'll get easier, and then, why, you'll feel like a bad mammajamma then! Worst case, you'd make a kick butt science teacher.
I really do appreciate what you guys are saying, but this is something I have already considered for myself and decided against doing.Totally agree!!!! It takes a lot of practice for your stomach to handle those episodes. In my bio classes that I have taken I get queezy from the smell and feel like days afterwards I can still smell it. But with time and practice you get use to it! In my anatomy class last semester we dissected a pigs heart and it was the coolest thing ever besides the smell! And the whole needle thing I am terrified to get shots and thought how on earth am I going to give someone a shot. But was told time and practice and building your confidence up it becomes second nature. Well it's true!!! I haven't started my MA clinicals yet, next semester, but I take care of a lady who has diabetes plus dementia. Well her husband took control over her diabetes because of her going into a bad diabetic shock that if he's gone I'm going to have to test her blood and give her her insulin. Well he taught me and man was it a rush the first time!!! And now it's easy and (as bad as this is going to sound) look forward to give my lady her insulin!!! So everyone gags and throws up from time to time. In the end your stomach will adjust and get use to the smells!


Now this sounds like fun!Pipdz- Although we've never met, I feel we have so much in common. (besides our beloved pet chickens) As a kid I wanted to be a field researcher - like Jane Goodall but with giraffes. When learning more about animal science careers, I took classes at Brookfield Zoo. Once I learned that their pay is often less than a teacher's salary, job opportunities are scarce, and that field study grants are tough to come by, I decided to put myself on a path to work with children. (They're like animals sometimes, right?) Besides having a German minor, I also took many science classes just for the fun of it. I was tempted to switch majors to become a vet, but I disliked all the Latin memorization as well as anatomy. After graduation when it came time to find a teaching job (I was hoping for 4th grade.), all those science classes put my resume in the hands of middle schools in desperate need of science teachers. Then I realized middle school kids were fun. Every day's a roller coaster! With so many ups & downs, one can never have a completely awful day, and I always have many funny stories to tell. Of course, I ended up having to memorize taxonomy & anatomy in order to teach it. Life is funny that way. I also ended up getting a grant to earn graduate credits while doing field research in Belize.![]()
Here's Joe (the guy in charge) standing at the front of the boat with his light. He couldn't get the proper equipment through customs, so he improvised by making a crocodile/alligator catcher out of a long stick & rope. Once it was secured, we got to help document their eating habits by flushing the stomachs. Here's one being released the next day. So, my virtual friend, I am sure you will find your path. You may not always end up exactly where you planned, but the journey is always fun.



