Are you an introvert or extrovert?

Nurses Relations

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I am a new nurse, immersed in a new (nursing) culture.

Most of my coworkers seem outspoken and very extroverted, however we have a few 'quiet leaders' on the unit.

All of the personality testing I have done puts me just on the brink - between extrovert and introvert.

I am left wondering...are most nurses extovert or introvert?

What do you think?

Specializes in ER,ICU,L+D,OR.
Uh....I am sure you did not mean it like it sounds. But the insinuation seems to be that introverts have a "hidden agenda"?? I am not offended and not meaning to create a debate. But I don't think people who are introverted all have hidden agenda's. We are just more contemplative. We spend more time deeply thinking and pondering things. Most of us have nothing to hide...We just think more than we talk.

I'm a bit of an oddball though. I am very introverted, yet I also have an adventure streak and like to experience new things. I live life to the fullest.

Out of curiosity, I was not sure what you meant by "GREEN" lifestyle?

Looks like I sparked some interest here. unintentionally of course. I was not insinuating anything, life is to short and too busy to deal with insinuating anything. Certainly not against introverts, nor anyone really. Takes too much time and effort. I do tend to speak without thinking things through though.I have a very open life and style of life.

Green- I am a Greenie. I am environmentally, ecologically very friendly. I have reduced my carbon footprint as much as I know how. If you ever want to know what Ive done let me know. Ive done a lot and leave it there. Ed and Rachelle Begley have actually visited my home.

BTW I admire Bill and Hillary, both with ties to the Green community

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Specializes in ER,ICU,L+D,OR.

Extrovert all the way

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Of course you are not the only introverted person in nursing!

I'm an introvert by nature and I know of a other nurses who are introverted and they are good at what they do. I admire them. Although personally, I wish I could be a blend of the two because they both have good qualities. I work on an oncology unit and I think my qualities of being gentle and soft-spoken are quite fitting. You cant change who you are, just be yourself. I would rather people be themselves then to be something they truly are not. I think it would be pretty boring if we were all the same. Your supervisor needs to learn how to be more open-minded, not everyone is going to be the same.

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Specializes in Medsurg/ICU, Mental Health, Home Health.

i don't know what i am, to be honest.

i think my outgoing side is more memorable, so those who know me would consider me as such. in my day to day life, i keep to myself. a lot of times i let my calls go to voicemail because i just don't feel like talking, or i'll skip out on a party because i'd rather be alone with a book.

i think, by nature, i'm an introvert who was conditioned to very extroverted tendencies.

i'm wondering if anyone has read personality plus by florence littauer. it divides personalities into four groups loosely based on the four humors.

there's yellow = happy sanguine (your outgoing, fun friend who's great for inviting to a party but probably won't show up on time or help too much with planning)

red = angry choleric (the friend you want around in an emergency because he or she won't go to pieces emotionally and will know what to do, but also tells it like it is with no regards to saving someone's feelings, and a bit bossy)

purple = perfect melancholy (detail oriented, analytical friend who's very creative but prone to taking everything personally and falling down into the dumps easily)

and green = peaceful phlegmatic (nice, agreeable friend who won't start a conflict but also can't really make decisions easily and tends to be a chameleon of sorts)

when it comes to that, i'm purple/red. everyone has a primary and a secondary. you can't be purple/yellow or vice versa or red/green or vice versa.

also, you can "mask," meaning you've appeared to have changed your personality...i mask as yellow but deep down i'm not at all.

my campus minister told me that you should think of how you were as a child, before friends and work and society encouraged you to act a certain way...that's who you are for real. how you act...that's a different story.

sorry, but the purple girl that i am...i love putting things into categories!

*~jess~*

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Specializes in Med-Surg; Telemetry; School Nurse pk-8.

Introverted -- need my time alone. Here is an interesting quiz -- 72 yes or no questions to determine your personality type. I'm a INFJ.

http://www.humanmetrics.com/cgi-win/JTypes2.asp

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Specializes in Pediatrics.

Definitely an introvert. Sometimes that makes it harder to be a nurse, with all the people interaction; but at least with nursing, there is always something you can DO for the people you are interacting with. Unlike, as Commuter describes and I also can't stand, awkward social situations that require small talk, etc.

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Specializes in Geriatrics, Home Health.

I'm an introvert. I'm not good with nursy small talk, but I'm a very good listener.

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Specializes in Emergency Medicine, Psychiatric Crisis.

Extrovert baby. Although I do no love confrontation...I am pretty good at dealing with them. I love talking to people and helping out. I am friendly with everyone but no one becomes my friend.....too much friends = too much drama=too much jealously. No time for that

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Studies have shown that most nurses are introverts. I certainly am. This is not to be confused with shyness. I am not shy. But I am an introvert in a big way;

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Specializes in Making the Pt laugh..

As a child I was introverted, but as I grew I found myself in situations that made me extroverted, I have workmates who try to get me on the same shifts of the roster and work together because I am "out there". I have been described as a cross betwen the class clown and the ADD kid who never grew up, but at the same time I can switch to "professional mode" in a heartbeat. I guess I am just several personalities rolled up into one gorgeous body.

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Specializes in Emergency.

I used to be an introvert in my childhood. I was very shy, and hated meeting new people.

I had a hard time because of it in school and life in general.

As I got older, this got better, and my work experience (even before nursing) helped me to learn how to interact with people I don't know.

Some of my closest friends have told me that when they first met me they felt like I was stand-offish and not outgoing, but once they got to know me they realized that I am really not like that, but just the opposite.

I now consider myself to be both. I really like my "alone time" and am content to just be by myself, but also enjoy meeting people and getting to know them.

I have never had a problem with a patient or family complaining that I am not friendly or personable, and I think there is a huge difference between being an introvert and just plain having an attitude.

At work, I am very outgoing and get along well with most everyone. I like talking to patients and family and do not feel scared or shy. I work with lots of nurses who are introverted, but that does not mean they are unfriendly or cannot work with their patients, in fact, some of them are really excellent nurses in all areas of care.

Don't worry you will be fine.

Amy

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Specializes in Cardiac Telemetry, ED.

Introvert here. It hasn't been a problem for me. My patients like me, and so do their family members.

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