Am I'm too serious to be a RN?

NurseLoveJoy88, ASN, RN · May 25, 2011

If you are too serious then so what ! You are who you are. In nursing there is room for almost all personality types.

I may annoy you though. I'm constantly cracking jokes and striking up a conversation. I get my work done but I couldn't get through nursing without my personality. lol

dance4life · May 25, 2011

If you are too serious then so what ! You are who you are. In nursing there is room for almost all personality types.
I may annoy you though. I'm constantly cracking jokes and striking up a conversation. I get my work done but I couldn't get through nursing without my personality. lol

I agree, plus it makes a happy medium. :yeah:

Mukfay · May 25, 2011

When you're at a loss with a patient, you might try asking questions. Sometimes people don't want to talk. Often humor wouldn't help that anyway. But often people love to talk about themselves. That is especially true if they are suffering. It worked for me when I felt awkward, and it works with people out of the hospital too. Let me know how it goes.

Regards,

Mukfay

kool-aide, RN · May 25, 2011

OP, how old are you? Are you new to the facility? Are you a new nurse or new to a specialty? Give us some more info. :)

AgentBeast, MSN, RN · May 25, 2011

:jester:WHY SO SERIOUS?

Kooky Korky, BSN, RN · May 25, 2011

Just be yourself. It is pointless and usually unsuccessful to try to be someone you are not. Your personality is God-given and has been formed by your life experiences. You are what you are.

A word of advice from someone who is also usually serious and not real good at small talk or joking around and often feels self-conscious and shy = you might want to say, at what you deem an opportune time, "I guess I am kind of quiet. I am pretty shy and I do need to focus on my work, but I know that might come across as unfriendly. I don't mean to seem unfriendly, I'm really just the quiet type and just need to focus on my work so I can give you the best care". Something like that. Just let them know that you are aware of your personality and how it might seem to them, but that you are really just needing to focus on their care (not to mention your own lawsuit avoidance).

I have always been shy but some people take this as unfriendly or snobbish. Absolutely nothing could be less true. I want very much to be able to kid around and have a lot of fun at work. And over they years I have learned to do that more and more. As I have grown confident in my skills, I have less need to focus 1000% of my attention on the tasks at hand. That's because I have assessed thousands of IV sites, VS, wounds, overall pictures, etc. and trust my assessment skills and am no longer scared to death that I will make a terrible mistake. Lest I sound cocky, I do feel half scared to death still. I probably always will, as our work is filled with many pitfalls and stuff can go wrong so easily, out of the blue.

Something else - not everyone wants a lot of laughing and joking. When I am sad or scared or in pain, I kind of just want a quiet smile, a gentle hello, and a very skilled nurse who knows what to do and how to do it.

Also, I find it really annoying when someone is always joking and I have a serious matter on my mind.

Hope this helps.

blueyesue · May 25, 2011

Pursue your dreams.

2126 · May 25, 2011

I'm exactly the same way!!!!! Every job in the past that I have had, I have always been the awkward quiet one. Despite this, my sincerity to my pt's both in the past and Gd willing in the future has shown through. As long as they feel that you care about them, I don't think the silence really matters. I hope that makes sense.

NurseThis21, BSN, RN · May 25, 2011

And this is why we need to continue to have a spectrum of personalities amongst RNs. Take this as an opportunity to learn from and appreicate others' behaviors and characteristics. Don't be intimidated; it's not like you're going home with these people!

Understand that your personality is just as wonderful and unique as anyone else's and don't label or look and down on yourself; you'll have enough enemies to do that for you.

And with your patients, use the "bus stop talk"; small conversations about the weather or current events. No need to feel like you're just a task monster; last I heard, none of us were robots. Once you get a feel of how easy it is to approach people, you'll be on your way!

Chin up and know that you got this because those who mind don't matter and those who matter don't mind!!! ^_^

Black Jade, BSN, RN · May 25, 2011

I'm also serious and I wondered if nursing was the right profession for me. I joked that I am going to inject botox on my forehead so I wouldn't look like I was frowning all the time. How do your friends perceive you? Are you shy? I had people who don't know the real me, perceive me as being serious or snobbish, but once they get to know me they find out that I can be silly. Maybe you feel more comfortable with children?

Do you consider that you have a Type A personality, somebody who can't seem to relax? You should try taking a class on Laughing Yoga or hang out more with silly people. I used to hang out with my friend who can be a clown and we always end up cracking up with tears in our eyes.