Any INFP nurses out there?

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I am in my first semester of nursing school. I have a 95 average on the written tests but I hate clinical. Not because I am not caring, but because the instructions are vague and I feel awkward and out of my element. I have never worked hands-on with patients and I feel very awkward, especially with family members watching in the room. I also tend to like to take my time at doing things, and do them correctly. (An element of OCD there, I believe). I consistently test as an INFP on the Meyers Briggs personality tests. I think I border on the introvert/extrovert, but I am extremely sensitive. I am already almost 40 years old and trying to find my niche. Sad but true. I am extremely caring and think about other people's problems even when I come home. Should I go into something else instead of nursing? Are there any happy INFP's out there satisified with nursing and if so, what area do you work in? I am just trying to be honest with myself. I have always worked in the medical field in a clerical aspect. Or maybe I should give up nursing and write a novel since that is what INFP's are supposed to be best at? Just kidding. Okay, half-way kidding. :D

I am now curious to see what specialties all of you are in, or interested in?

I used to do ER, which I enjoyed a lot of the time, and hated a lot of the time because of the chaos and not being able to provide my standard of good care. Jumped around for a bit trying to find my niche. Am now doing toxicology, which I love...I get to think, be autonomous, make decisions, feel like I really help people.

I'm also in an FNP program, so I'm curious to see how that goes. (In my first semester now, so no clinicals yet.)

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Specializes in School Nursing.
I am now curious to see what specialties all of you are in, or interested in?

I used to do ER, which I enjoyed a lot of the time, and hated a lot of the time because of the chaos and not being able to provide my standard of good care. Jumped around for a bit trying to find my niche. Am now doing toxicology, which I love...I get to think, be autonomous, make decisions, feel like I really help people.

I'm also in an FNP program, so I'm curious to see how that goes. (In my first semester now, so no clinicals yet.)

Being an INFP, I don't think I could work the ER. I have a lot of fears and phobias too, which makes me question whether nursing is even a good fit for me in general. Is ER stressful? I think I could handle morbid things if the patient was already deceased, like autopsy-related stuff, but thinking about working with severe trauma cases freaks me out. How did you get into toxicology? What do you do?

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Specializes in School Nursing.

Let me clarify my last post because I know that it sounds strange. Nurses probably don't work with deceased or do autopsy-related things, and I wouldn't have the desire to either. I was just trying to explain that real high level stressful, near-death, traumatic situations freak me out even thinking about them.... and emotionally I do not think I would be strong enough to handle seeing really bad MVA victims for example. I am sure the ER sees some very terrible things.

I was thinking about ICU since there is a low patient ratio, but I don't know if that would also bother me emotionally.

I don't know what my niche is but I hope I can find it. I will also be interested in finding out what areas of nursing other INFP's work in.

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Being an INFP, I don't think I could work the ER. I have a lot of fears and phobias too, which makes me question whether nursing is even a good fit for me in general. Is ER stressful? I think I could handle morbid things if the patient was already deceased, like autopsy-related stuff, but thinking about working with severe trauma cases freaks me out. How did you get into toxicology? What do you do?

It is definitely pretty stressful. For me it had more to do with the noise, the hordes of people all over the place, and the high patient to nurse ratio combined with high acuity. Also, I felt like a task robot a lot of the time...just do do do without having time to really think or talk to people. I did love the wide variety of patients though, and always having something new, learning so many different things, and the drama in general.

I work in a poison center now. Worked out well with the ER background. Very interesting job. Lots of pharmacology, lots of overdoses (accidental and intentional) besides just the kiddos getting into things.

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Specializes in School Nursing.
It is definitely pretty stressful. For me it had more to do with the noise, the hordes of people all over the place, and the high patient to nurse ratio combined with high acuity. Also, I felt like a task robot a lot of the time...just do do do without having time to really think or talk to people. I did love the wide variety of patients though, and always having something new, learning so many different things, and the drama in general.

I work in a poison center now. Worked out well with the ER background. Very interesting job. Lots of pharmacology, lots of overdoses (accidental and intentional) besides just the kiddos getting into things.

I love pharmacology. Actually, when I first started college many, many years ago, I was wanting to get into pharmacy. That sounds like a fun job!

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Thanks for starting this thread! I'm in pre-nursing, and I'm an INFP. I've been wondering how INFP's do in nursing, and what kind of nursing they like best.

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I am sooo glad I found this thread! :yeah:

I am an ISFP/INFP.

My first MBTI test was given by a career counselor a couple years I ago. My result was ISFP, but my S (sensing) was weak/borderline. For the most part, I thought I identified with most of the ISFP profile. I also tested as ISFP on the humanmetrics website, and once again, my S (Sensing) was the lowest percentage.

Since then, a couple other Myers-Briggs tests on the internet have given me the result of INFP. The more I read the INFP description profile, the more I feel I fit in with the INFP personality.

Perhaps I'm just 50/50 with my Sensing versus iNtuition?

Anyway, I have been STRUGGLING to my find my nursing speciality, or my niche in nursing. To the point that after every RN job I've had so far, I'm left feeling like majoring in nursing was a mistake and maybe I'm just not cut out to be a nurse.

However, I also struggle with dysthymia (chronic depression) and most likely it is my dysthymia that is causing me to have so much trouble finding my place in the nursing world. I keep finding stuff on the internet where people claim they think the INFP is more prone to depression.

I started out in critical care in a coronary care unit (CCU). Then I worked on a medical/cardiology telemetry floor. Next I tried PACU (recovery room) in an outpatient same day surgery center. Most recently I worked for hospice, as a home hospice nurse.

I'm in the middle of a job search and I need a new job. I'm applying to every hospital in my area to see what is available and who will hire me. I have absolutely no idea which specialty I'd be best suited for as an ISFP or INFP. But at this point, with the current economic depression, it probably doesn't even matter anymore. I guess I'll be lucky if atleast 1 hospital offers me a full time RN job and I'll have to accept whatever I can get.

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I am currently working in private duty.....so far, so good. One on one patient contact (and I am with the same patient everyday, which CAN get a little redundant, but I am grateful to have a job given the current economy, and the assignment is only for a few more months). My days are pretty stress-free. I am planning on returning to school for my ADN and then maybe later on my Masters in Art Therapy (I have a BA in art/photography and would love to combine the two down the road...even if it's on the side...but I think it speaks more to me as a INFP personality type).

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I wish i saw this thread back in 11/08, in 6/08 i took the meyers brigg because i had reached a road block in nursing ( BSN x10 yrs.) I am in midst of 2 msw non-matiric grad courses. Ii came to appreciate how much knowledge about medicine/pscyhology i learned from nursing school plus the many seminars i take because i love learning new things..i can relate to feeling the environment..found school nursing chaotic and found I could 'read the ' the childrens feelings pretty well. So i am proud to returning to nursing..i am so glad to know there are INFP Rns out there..i always enjoyed my patients but need my down time as well...:chuckle

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Just wondering how all the other INFP nurses are doing out there! I'm planning on working the Mollen Flu Shot Clinic this season and look for stable/full time work in the meantime. I'd LOVE to find some sort of community nursing job (but I'm an LVN). I think I'd find satisfaction in community nursing....but not quite sure what all is out there for an LVN. I live in the South Bay, CA. Hope all of you are taking care of yourselves and are well!

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I am INFP, too. I believe that INFP is not a good type for the majority of nursing jobs. You need strong organization skills and practical hand-on skill that most INFP am lacking. I am too theoretical and dreamy. I can relate to your feeling as a nursing student. On the other words, "judging" and "sensing" are very valued in nursing. This is the reason why nursing is listed as a "ISFJ" career, not INFP. There's lots of people with "S" and "J" in nursing.

I also don't see any co-worker on my floor who has INFP personality type. We are very rare but honestly I have never found one.

Healthcare is getting more structured and there's no room for artistic creativity, brainstroming, and reflectiveness. This causes me lots of frustration on my jobs. Nurses are valued for their efficiency but not their creativity.

I think the most compatible career for me is mental health and education. I am in pharmacy school right now but I am still considering continue my master level in Mental Health Nursing. I would rather be a psychologist but the length is as long as medical school. I regret that I took MBTI too late in my life.

I know that this post is quite emotional but do you guys agree???

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Hehe...is this Allegro ? ;) It's ok, this is Gemma... :) Looks like we are BOTH "dissatisfied" with nursing/being INFP as a nurse : / I feel like I have a few walls against me right now. 1). The area I live in is saturated with LVN's so it's hard to find a job, 2). I don't feel like I can take just "any" nursing job due to my INFP nature, 3). It's hard for me to network with people.....soo....the job hunt continues. I posted or wrote you a private message on the other forum about holistic health. I am planning on going for my BSN/RN only so it can HOPEFULLY open more doors and/or go on for my masters.....feels like I'll be in school forever, but yeah, I love learning for the sake of learning....just wish it didn't always have to cost so much $$$.

You still torn between Pharm and NP? And yes, I have been seeing more and more of what you are saying as far as nurses mostly being SFJ types....not much room for theories/creativity.....after my BSN, I HOPE to find some alternative clinic I can work for that focuses more on promoting the wellness of people via forms of holistic health.....maybe get my massage therapy cert. not sure.....

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