Being a shy nurse

Nursing Students Pre-Nursing

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I start pre nursing this spring. I am very shy and soft spoken. Family, friends said nursing wouldn't be a good fit for me because of this. Do you think nursing would be good for a very shy person?

I'm pretty quiet but I didn't have a problem talking to patients or families. I have been a nurse for 3.5 years and was a tech for 5 years before that, and I still dislike confrontation and sometimes I dislike talking to doctors. However, I overcome it and enjoy my job. I would recommend maybe working in some sort of healthcare setting while in school if possible so you aren't so intimidated.

I am not going to sugarcoat this issue. Shyness will be a major handicap in your nursing career. Once you start your nursing courses, you will learn that being a patient advocate is at the core of nursing. This means speaking up for your patient, representing the patient's concerns, issues and interests before doctors, hospital administrators and other members of the health care team. It may require you to stop a physician from performing a procedure that you believe will harm your patient. The good news is that shyness can be overcome! It takes practice and time, and since you are just starting your courses, you can have both. Good luck in your nursing career!

A lot of people are downplaying the negative sides of being shy. It is bad to be shy and soft spoken as a nurse because it comes across as being intimidated and unsure of yourself. Look at yourself in the mirror and practice speeches on yourself. You can even record them.

Your parents are very wrong, I will agree with that. But, be confident! You're smart or else you would not go into such a demanding profession.

1/3 of people are "shy". It is a natural part of human nature, so to say it is negative is wrong. In different cultures besides ours it is not looked down upon at all. I am shy but I have confidence when speaking to pts because I feel that I know what I am doing. Many of my pts have expressed appreciation at the fact that I approach them with a gentler tone and they say it is calming, soothing and have said that I dont give off a sense of being flustered or rushing them. I personally dislike when people are phoney baloney with fake smiles on their faces, I dont think it's therapeutic to approach pts as if you are taking their order at Applebees and need to blow sunshine up their butts to get a good tip. If you are genuine and caring in your nonverbal and verbal communication I think that is most important. As far as interacting with other professionals, if you are licensed and keeping your license is part of your daily motivation on the job, I dont think most people have a problem communicating what needs to get done for the pt.

I am a very shy person who keeps to herself most of the time. But when I started volunteering at the front desk of a clinic, I became more easygoing in social situations. I really surprised myself. So nursing may be a bit of a challenge for people like you and me, but with experience it gets a lot easier to "come out of your shell." It's like lifting weights--your muscles are weak at first but the more you do it, the heavier you can lift, right?

I am also shy and soft spoken, but I don't believe it has affected my nursing career so far. I am a new nurse on a geriatric unit and am doing well so far, so I think you will be just fine!

Specializes in Med/Surg Oncology.

Shy, soft spoken people are usually compassionate and caring. You also will be able to relate to patients who are shy and soft spoken. Every day try to talk a little louder, and make eye contact with 1 more person each day. Before long it will be second nature, and you will actually start to enjoy it. Good luck!

Specializes in Cardiac.

Id say....it can be hard being shy but you will get a lot better and become much less shy the longer your in Nursing...Nursing school is quite brutal and your forced to be less shy just to survive the program and in Nursing you will find plenty of nurses who are quite and shy and some who are loud and aggressive and both are valued. You'll learn though when you need to be loud and aggressive and when you can be your normal self. I am *extremely* shy...like to the point of being scared talk outloud around people...but im not nearly soooo bad as what I used to be. I can turn on my loud/aggressive alter-ego as needed but usually im still rather shy.

it'll work...fear not!

I am soft spoken and can be shy. As long as you do great in your classes you will be just fine :)

Take a public speaking class. Shyness can interfere with asking for help. You can be reserved and speak with authority.

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