Are all nurses extroverts?

Nurses Relations

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I'm a high school student who's thinking of becoming a nurse, but I'm kind of second guessing this because I recently heard that nurses are all extroverts. I'm shy and kind if an introvert. I was wondering if anyone knows if this would affect my ability to be a good nurse. Do you know any nurses who are introverts?

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Specializes in Critical Care; Cardiac; Professional Development.

No, definitely not all nurses are extroverts. The only requirement in terms of socialization is that you have the ability to communicate with patients, family and staff. You don't have to be "gregarious", just professional.

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

I'm a nurse and I'm an introvert. :)

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I know more nurses including myself that are introverts. As long as you aren't too shy to communicate with your patients, their families, doctors, other members of the healthcare team, etc you'll be fine.

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Specializes in Med/Surg, Tele, Dialysis, Hospice.

Heavens, no, you don't have to be an extrovert to be a nurse! I am definitely an introvert and have been a nurse for over 20 years and I still feel a little shy going into a new patient's room and introducing myself. All I can tell you is that it gets easier with time, and don't let it deter you from becoming a nurse.

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Specializes in Rehab, critical care.

I'm friendly, but I'm introverted. Of course you can be a nurse and be introverted. Now, if you really don't enjoy being around people at all, then nursing would not be for you lol

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No way!! I'm a big introvert. You just have to manage communicating effectively with a bunch of different people (patients, families, other staff) which takes time to master, especially for us introverts :) Everyone has their challenges, don't let it worry you.

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I'm an introvert but it hasn't stopped me yet.

Introverts are usually really good listeners and observers.

Those are two fine qualities in a nurse.

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Specializes in LDRP.

im totally an introvert, but im also very intuitive. i spend more time listening to my patients instead of talking insessantly to them, and i tend to pick up cues that lead me to underlying problems. there are benefits to being an extrovert, and ill admit i have to fake it a little bit at times while working, which can be exhausting, but being an introvert can definitely be an asset too!

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Specializes in OB-Gyn/Primary Care/Ambulatory Leadership.
im totally an introvert, but im also very intuitive. i spend more time listening to my patients instead of talking insessantly to them, and i tend to pick up cues that lead me to underlying problems. there are benefits to being an extrovert, and ill admit i have to fake it a little bit at times while working, which can be exhausting, but being an introvert can definitely be an asset too!

Yeah, this pretty much described me.

After a shift, I like to pretty much hole up in a quiet room by myself.

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Specializes in NICU.

Not at all! In one of my nursing classes, we all took personality tests and we were about 50-50 introverts/extroverts. There are all kinds of nursing and all kinds of nurses.

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Specializes in Psych/AOD.

Absolutely not! Introverts totally rock!!

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