Bright personality required??

[cherryharlean]

I recently talked to an RN because I was interested in becoming a nurse and she told me that I should reconsider nursing if I am not a natural "people person." As in, very talkative, bright, cheery, and smiley.

I'm not really an extroverted person. I am more introverted. And I am not the type of person who likes to talk and talk and talk. This is not to say that I am mean or cold though! I do warm up to people and I am nice (at least I hope!). I'm just more on the quiet side. Basically what I'm saying is that people would definitely never describe me as "lively" or "perky."

That nurse kind of just implied that she doesn't think I would make a very good nurse and it rubbed me the wrong way because being a nurse is my dream. It's not my fault that I am not as outgoing as her. I never have been like that.

Do you agree with this? In your experiences, do you find that nurses who have more extroverted personalities are more succcessful? Should I try to be more outgoing?

[anurseuk]

Can you imagine a whole unit of nurses who are cheery, happy and extrovert? It would be an absolute nightmare! I think nursing (as with a lot of professions) needs a number of different personalities to work effectively and complement each other.

I like to think I'm a Introverted extrovert! You have to be versitile as a nurse :) Go for it!

[chicookie, BSN, RN]

I used to be a bright, sunny person.

Then I became a nurse and am becoming a crabby person. So from personal experience, no.

IMO: nursing tends to change people's personality. All the people that I knew that are now nurses are completely different.

[Purple_Scrubs, BSN, RN]

Another introvert here. I agree that it is certainly not a requirement that a good nurse be an extrovert. On the contrary, I think being introverted helps me in many ways. I get my work done and stay out of the gossip mill, my patients say I am a great listener, and therapeutic communication comes easily for me. When I was working nights in the hospital, I would always greet my patients warmly and rather than ask them if they had a good day, which would get a yes/no answer, I would always say "tell me about your day", which opens them up and I can really get a feel for their status. The patient does most of the talking, and I just listen and ask appropriate questions. My patients loved me!

[Ruby Vee, BSN]

i recently talked to an rn because i was interested in becoming a nurse and she told me that i should reconsider nursing if i am not a natural "people person." as in, very talkative, bright, cheery, and smiley.

i'm not really an extroverted person. i am more introverted. and i am not the type of person who likes to talk and talk and talk. this is not to say that i am mean or cold though! i do warm up to people and i am nice (at least i hope!). i'm just more on the quiet side. basically what i'm saying is that people would definitely never describe me as "lively" or "perky."

that nurse kind of just implied that she doesn't think i would make a very good nurse and it rubbed me the wrong way because being a nurse is my dream. it's not my fault that i am not as outgoing as her. i never have been like that.

do you agree with this? in your experiences, do you find that nurses who have more extroverted personalities are more succcessful? should i try to be more outgoing?

you do have to be able to talk to people, although "talking and talking and talking" can be a problem. there's plenty of room for quiet people in nursing as well! i've never been outgoing and lack the gift of gab, but i can talk to my patients, their visitors and the other members of the health care team when need be. i will say that those who are more "social" tend to have a hard time getting their work done in the time allotted . . . .

[Multicollinearity, BSN, RN]

PeachPie,

Thank you for posting that article on introverts from The Atlantic. I enjoyed reading it.

[meluhn]

I agree with lovehospital. Overly cheerful, phony people get on everyones nerves. You don't have to be talkative or peppy. That nurse that told you that was probably passively aggressively saying "You really have to be special like me to be a nurse" A subtle put down. She is so wrong. Nurses come in all different types of personalities. You just have to be kind and understanding and even if you are not, there is still a place for you in administration (LOL).