Can a shy person become a good nurse?

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Hi to all,

It was suggested to me that I was not assertive enough to make it through nursing school.

I have not started NS yet, but will be applying to start Fall '10.

I feel like I have the smarts to make it, and it is my life-long dream ( 46 years old-looong dream). lol

I am not terribly shy, just some-what quiet. My question is , do you have to be "assertive" to be able to handle NS?

I'll just add my voice to the others who have said that yes, you do need to learn to speak up.

But that's fine, because it is a skill you CAN practice and learn.

Also, assertive doesn't mean aggressive. It just means unswayable. You don't have to walk into a room swinging a baseball bat, you just have to say "I know what I'm doing, now please let me do my job," with confidence. But make no mistake, you WILL have to at least have to hold your ground.

Also, you will select a job and an environment that is right for you. Maybe you won't want to play traffic cop with the drunks and the fighting families in a big-city ED (or maybe you will -- your way!) You might find your working "home" in a quieter area.

You will figure it out. But I honestly feel people, particularly mature people like us, must be who we are. If you are a reserved person, you probably stand back and LISTEN and observe things, and that is a strength. Use it! Be who you are -- just add on to it.

Also, and I'm being serious here, what makes you think people see you as nervous? Because a couple of people over the course of your life, at a few bad moments, told you that? Maybe it's not even true, and you're carrying that belief around!

I'd try volunteering, if you have a little time. Anywhere, a nursing home, veterans home wherever (fewer regulations than a hospital, but a hospital might work too). Try pretending you've never heard you're nervous or shy. BE that confident, assertive person you want to be. They've never met you. Just walk up to people and start chatting. Ask if you can assist with activities, or maybe even lead a simple activity, like a craft or reading group or something.

I'm pretty reserved. But when I volunteer, I start seeing that the patients need is so much greater than mine, my self-censor just turns off and my mouth opens and I just chat away and do what I need to do to make them feel better. You're a mother. I think it's a bit like that.

Everything is hard, I know. But this is definitely fixable. Your world will open up!

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Specializes in Emergency Dept. Trauma. Pediatrics.

Of course you can be a nurse, as long as you can speak up when the time calls for it you will be fine. Now if your patient is dying and you are to shy to say anything their will be problems, but this doesn't sound like you!

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Specializes in Alzheimer's Unit, Cardiac.

Don't let anyone talk you down from being a nurse. If it's what you want...you can do it.

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Thanks for posting the link to this test :cool:

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I'm a walking example of it! I'm a very nervous, awkward, clumsy, anxiety-ridden person, except at work. I'm not a nurse now, but dealing with people and sales was part of my previous profession. I transformed into a completely different person when I worked. I was confident, professional, and very good at what I did. I trained people that would say I don't know if I could ever do as well as you. The confidence comes from knowing what you are doing. I know I'll be a clumsy mess when I first start clinicals because that's just me, but when I get comfortable I know I have what it takes to be a really good nurse.

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The problem with most of examples here is that people claim to be shy and then immediately say how confident or how they are in their element when they get to work. Or people say you'll be more confident latter ... that you grow out of it. The question is can you be a shy nurse. Implying that being shy is your natural trait and you NEVER grow out of it even in work ... then I'd say no, you'd get walked down into the hospital foundation eventually. ..... But come on ... if you can raise 3 boys into men I can't imagine you being "shy".

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Hi to all,

It was suggested to me that I was not assertive enough to make it through nursing school.

I have not started NS yet, but will be applying to start Fall '10.

I feel like I have the smarts to make it, and it is my life-long dream ( 46 years old-looong dream). lol

I am not terribly shy, just some-what quiet. My question is , do you have to be "assertive" to be able to handle NS?

Who "suggested" this to you. Did they give you any constructive advice as to how to build up any skills that you might need more practice with? Or did they just hand you a judgement from on high?

Nursing school is designed to help you develop many different interpersonal skills that you'll need. I wouldn't worry.

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I am an extremely shy person as well and this post was VERY uplifting! I get nervous around people and I would rather have someone smack me than walk into a room full of people! I am currently in my second semester of school and I can't believe I am actually sitting in the front of the class. I often wonder how I will do in NS! For me, I have been a stay at home mom for 11 years and I think that probably has something to do with it. I have been out of the work force all of these years. I will say that when I was in high school I was a waitress and when I was a senior I did work as a nurses aide for a couple of years. I keep worrying about what if I make silly mistakes and everyone will see me. Funny thing is, I never worried about that when I took my nurses aide classes or when I took a nine month program for a medical assistant! I just need to learn how to feel comfortable around people and become assertive!

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Hello guys!

I am very shy and quiet. Like, I am usually quiet in classes. My first day of class, someone said " you're so quiet!" I don't know what to do. It's just that I don't know what to do say. Hopefully I can learn.

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maybe.

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Specializes in Long Term Care,Cardiac Care,Pediatric..
Hello guys!

I am very shy and quiet. Like, I am usually quiet in classes. My first day of class, someone said " you're so quiet!" I don't know what to do. It's just that I don't know what to do say. Hopefully I can learn.

I am the same way and this is my second year in school. You will be just fine! Just smile at people, say hello....make a comment about the class or assignment....you will be just fine! You can learn if you put your mind to it!! :)

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I am the same way and this is my second year in school. You will be just fine! Just smile at people, say hello....make a comment about the class or assignment....you will be just fine! You can learn if you put your mind to it!! :)

Thanks! I start the nursing assistant program in November which last 6 months.

As of now, I am taking Biology and English. I will try to make a comment about the class or assignment.

I don't want to annoy people. But I will try to say one comment or something after class. :)

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