Are there any fields good for someone who doesn't work well under pressure?

[Suzyq85]

Hello, I'm in my first semester of college and I'm aspiring to be a nurse. I haven't figured out which kind yet. I was really interested in L&D, but I was reading how chaotic it can be and how you have to work well under pressure in that field. I like fast-paced sometimes. I like being busy, a rush, anything like that. But I know myself and no matter how much I like it, I know I can't think under pressure! My mind freezes up and I can't think clearly or focus. I'm also not good at multitasking, unless I have a list. I have a really bad memory so my attention span is minute. Once something is out of my sight, its out of my mind unless I have it written on a list. I have an anxiety disorder which probably contributes to all of that, and it makes me wonder if I can even function as a nurse with it anyway..

So these traits of mine don't look good for the types of nursing that caught my attention, so far L&D and ER. I considered maybe trying to work in a small clinic setting instead of a hospital? But I feel like I'd end up bored with a routine. I can't stand doing the same thing everyday. I need some diversity in my career. I also need to be able to interact with patients. I lean more towards extroversion, and that's why I could never do a full-on, hide-away desk/office job, even though I'd be good at it. I really need to interact with people.

I want to be a nurse mainly to help people. I really want to make a difference in people's lives..just help people. I'm a very caring, kind, and empathetic person. I'm a dedicated worker and can endure a lot, physically and emotionally. I've read a lot of those "what are good nurse traits?" posts on here and according to them, I'd otherwise make a good nurse, except for my lack of ability to work well under pressure and multitask.

I know there's tons of nursing specialties I probably haven't even heard of. So there must be one where I'll be a good fit, where I can love my job and be happy doing it, and my anxiety won't hold me back. Is it possible for me to do well in a 'high-stress' field like L&D? Or can you tell me any fields of nursing where I might be a better fit? I appreciate your reading my post and any feedback :)

[HouTx, BSN, MSN, EdD]

Honestly? I'm trying to think of an area of nursing practice with minimal stress & no productivity pressure that requires multi-tasking..... and I can't think of any. Even the educational process is fraught with stress for the vast majority of students. It would most likely trigger your anxiety disorder. Maybe it's time to engage in some self-reflection to figure out what attracts you to nursing. Are those factors (e.g., helping people) available in other careers?

[Horseshoe, BSN, RN]

Nursing is very stressful. It requires the ability to think on your feet. Ability to multitask is a requirement for most nursing jobs. Poor memory would be a huge roadblock for most nursing jobs. I would be willing to bet your anxiety disorder is causing many of the problems you have related here. Have you sought professional help for this? No matter what kind of nursing you ultimately pursue, having an untreated anxiety disorder is going to detract from both personal and professional happiness.

There are areas of nursing which don't involve bedside care, or which involve less stress, time pressure, and requirements for strong memory and multitasking skills. But those jobs usually require at least some experience at the bedside. Nursing school will test all of the abilities that you've stated are weaknesses. Address your anxiety disorder, and I suspect all of those abilities will improve significantly.

[Extra Pickles]

Poor memory, short attention span, need lists in order to get tasks done. Quickly forgets unless what's needed is on a list. Don't do well under pressure, not good with multi-tasking. Freezing up under pressure, doesn't handle stress. Situations that don't require multi-tasking, have no stress are boring.

To be perfectly honest I don't see nursing in any capacity as something that is good fit for you. I know you want to help people, make a difference in their lives, you care about people and that's all good, but it doesn't mean you should be a nurse.

You can volunteer time in many places where the need exists to listen to people, provide small comforts and care to an individual. But you can't get through nursing school with the list of obstacles you describe and you aren't likely to be successful at holding down a nursing position with all that in your way.

There are more times than I can count where I had to think on my feet, make quick decisions, follow a list that exists only in my head. Paper lists are convenient when you can do it but lots of times you have to just be able to prioritize and remember. A short attention span will not help you, nor will inability to not freeze up when stress piles on.

The only fields of nursing I can think of that might allow you to accommodate these shortcomings would be ones that would also require a lot of experience IN jobs that you aren't likely to be able to hold down.

What makes a good nurse isn't just the warm and fuzzy traits, it's also all the rest. If you can't handle the hard parts, the parts that would cause you to freeze or flee, the easy parts won't matter.

Some people will tell you that it doesn't matter that you should follow your dream no matter what and that people who tell you to avoid nursing are just being negative. I'd answer that we're being realistic and the only thing you've said that fits with nursing is that you have a desire to help people and have a caring nature. But that isn't nearly enough, and it's best to realize that before you spends a lot of money and a lot of time figuring that out.