Being a nurse who likes working alone?

Nurses General Nursing

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Are there any nursing specialties for people who don't like too much human interaction?

Maybe working alone is impossible, but maybe instead work in a small, more relaxed team environment?

I thought about being a night nurse, but I heard nights are even more hectic than mornings.

I work in a very small specialty office, I am the only nurse. I think you would be very happy in an environment like this.

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I'm going to go ahead and advocate for the night shift here. Yes, some nights are bonkers (worked one myself last night), but I vastly prefer nights because I can't stand the hustle and bustle of a million and one people on day shift. Doctors, PT, OT, consult physicians, managers, etc. just create a hectic environment. I love working with patients and don't mind collaborating with these providers at all - it's the crazy environment that we are all thrown into that makes it stressful. I'm also introverted, so this might play into my preference. However, you still work with other nursing staff, as well as CNAs, so if THAT aspect turns you off, then perhaps another type of nursing position as mentioned by others might be more suited to you.

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Home health is great for that! I only see my coworkers on days that I want to. You also get down time in your car between patients to regroup.

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Specializes in Critical Care, ED, Cath lab, CTPAC,Trauma.
With coworkers, I mean. Not patients. I love my patients. I know this may sound silly; especially considering how I worded it and because obviously nursing is a people person career and you usually work in a close knit team setting.

I work as a CNA now and I notice how some people clash with other coworkers and some people think they are the boss and love delegating tasks. They seem to be more focused on the "power struggle" and "getting back" at co-workers they don't like by having them do the harder work. I would like to work somewhere without someone breathing down my neck 24/7 or little to no drama. I just want to do my work, please the patients, report to management whenever necessary, and go home.

In the CNA/care giver field, I noticed there are certain positions that require less interaction with others than working at certain nursing homes or assisted living facilities so I was wondering if it was the same for nursing.

It sounds like you are in a toxic environment. ((HUGS)) Are you in acute care right now?

There are several options to minimize co-worker drama. Nights is a good option. Many night shifts are tight as they really depend on each other and there is minimal administrative contact. I love nights fr that very reason. Stay out of the drama. Be nice and polite....don't share in gossip and keep your personal life out of work. Be helpful and kind and get busy when the gossiping/back stabbing starts have something to do with your patients...make rounds.

ICU's are OK, home health is another. Like I said off shifts. There are options open for you.

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I work private duty and have zero co-workers.

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Specializes in Family practice, emergency.

I second Esme's thoughts about your facility, and my initial though was home health as well so I second those posters. That being said, no matter where you work you will have some people that make you a better nurse by having them on your team (the ones who make you squeal with glee when you see them on your shift, yippee!) and ones that you avoid like the plague (Grrrr). May you find a team that makes you squeal more than growl.

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Specializes in school nursing, ortho, trauma.

school nursing definitely. I am the lone wolf in my office. I do have a clerk that come and helps me for about an hour a day to get my filing on track, but that is it - and I'm darned lucky to have that. Some schools do run with 2 or even 3 nurses but these are usually larger schools. Mine is 800 kids (which i think needs another nurse but that's a different thread)

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OP, you're always gonna have crappy coworkers no matter if you work at McDonalds or are a nurse.

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I am school nurse. I work by myself. I do deal with parents and teachers, but when it come to taking care of the kids it is just me.

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Are there any nursing specialties for people who don't like too much human interaction?

Maybe working alone is impossible, but maybe instead work in a small, more relaxed team environment?

I thought about being a night nurse, but I heard nights are even more hectic than mornings.

My first job was in a tiny rural hospital. In the ED it was 1 nurse, 1 tech, and, 1 doc (who was often in the sleep room).

My per diem gig didn't even have the tech and the docs spent even less time in the area where the RN sat... I would spend hours alone, often times even without patients....

Those were the longest shifts... 12 excruciating hours of... waiting...

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I would definitely say home care! I have been a home healthcare nurse for 1 year and now I am a DON at an Assisted living facility and still do home health flex time but home health is wonderful!!! Let me tell you a little more about it. Most people think when you go to home health you "dry out" but this is NOT TRUE AT ALL! You use ALL your skills and really need to be up to par with them. You also get to do all types of nursing in home health. you get to do pediatric, adolescent nursing, geriatrics, wound care nurse, you are also like the counselor/teacher, mother/baby visits, ITS ALL IN HOME HEALTH so you aren't dealing with just 1 specialty!!! I deal with PICC Lines, LOTS of wound care and wound vacs, IV's in the home, IV med administration through Cadd pumps and medi balls, Accessing and Deaccessing Port-A-Caths, tons of lab draws, use of ISTATS in the home for INR levels, and lots more but everything you do is independent and you are on your own. you case manage each patient yourself meaning you have the patient from the time they are admitted until they are discharged. I also LOVE HOME HEALTH because it is like you are able to observe all times of nursing. I see pediatric patients, adolescent patients, mother baby visits, elderly and pretty much any age! I know some agencies do not do it this way but our agency does and it works out wonderful. you have to be able to notice any status change with your patient and when to call the MD to change orders or update orders. You will also need to determine if patient needs PT OT or ST or MSW and put in orders for those disciplines to come into the home and assess patient. You will be responsible for this patient for all aspects of care and education to the patient and their families! It is a lot of driving depending on where you live. I live in the mountains and so I drive from 80-130 miles a day but they do reimburse for gas at my agency. if you have any questions please feel free to ask but I am and HUGE advocate for home care!!!

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You may not want to become a nurse then. Patient care is my favorite part of nursing. However, the politics, co-workers, and management makes it hard.

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