I have a fairly important question regarding the personal requirements of nursing. Most of everyone in my family has some sort of medical degree and I am following suit (after a less than climactic career in engineering). I identify pretty well with the people in my family in regards to personality and they all have encouraged me so far in the nursing program, each telling me I will do very well.
So heres the issue:
I keep coming across references to "Compassion" being a "common sense requirement" to be a nurse. This DOES NOT click with me or my personality. I like to think I have a science based logic and frame of mind, I am goal oriented, and I love a good challenge, excitement, and nigh impossible deadlines. This I can see being useful in being a nurse. However, I am not that compassionate of a person. Most of the time I believe that what happens is a consequence of your own actions. I do not easily feel sympathetic towards people and quite honestly am very irritated by drama and over acting. I have read and come across information explicitly stating that this is the number one reason NOT to be a nurse.
I have to admit, I am doing it for the money and job stability. I will most likely never work full time and I will never bring my work home with me WHEN POSSIBLE. I don't feel sorry for the sick, the injured, the unfortunate - IMO thats the way the world turns. I am in no way christian, bhuddist, jewish, agnostic, atheist, etc... I relate to Pantheism if I had to pick something spiritual to believe in. I do not agree with religion and would never pretend to. This being said, I CAN hold my tongue - I am actually quite the pro at it. Edit: I should also mention that I am very capable and I am very professional in work situations. I exhibit respect for other's opinions and beliefs. I just won't fake my own.
I am very good at carrying out instructions, working with a clear mind, getting the job done objectively. When it comes to critical thinking I can get it done subjectively as well. Those boundaries are malleable - the ones that aren't are the ones concerning my emotions. I like people in general when they are not consumed with themselves or taking themselves too seriously.
Am I a recipe for disaster when I begin working as a nurse? Should I cut my losses and withdraw from my nursing program so far - (Which I enjoy the moderate challenge)
Without WANTING to help the sick and injured I can still be a great nurse in my opinion. I'm not saying I would have a problem carrying out the duties of a nurse, but honestly it isn't what I wake up wanting to do. I am not a Mother Teresa. I want to be a nurse, like I said, to have the money, flexibility, and job security. I didn't even consider being a nurse until I realized the pay rate and demand. Don't get me wrong - I will do the job and do it to the best of my ability and I will follow direction easily without involving my own opinions, but I will not pretend to be sympathetic or empathetic. Thats just me.
Anyone else feel this way? Are you a nurse that has a similar personality? If so please tell me your experience as a nurse.
EDIT: I am convinced that my lack of ability in being outwardly compassionate lends to my ability to "not freak out" in emergency situations. I have been known to carry out my responsibilities like nothing has happened. I wanted to be an EMT originally, but unfortunately they are paid like chumps... ):
I wouldn't consider myself a very compassionate person, yet I love my job. I always said I wanted to work in OR to have "little patient contact as possible." I love my job because I learn everyday. I don't feel like you can say that about many other careers.
Also, I became a nurse for the medical part of it-- I know that doesn't make sense, BUT Ive always wanted to be a doctor, but I honestly do not want to go through the schooling and energy it takes. I will be an NP within the next few years. I can't find myself to feel any compassion for my patients who I see discharged and readmitted 15 times a month for their own unhealthy habits. You can only teach so much. I know bedside nursing isn't for me, and i knew it before I even went into nursing school, but you gotta start somewhere. Snaps for those who love it, I admire you.
As for the OP, do whatever you want to do. Nursing isn't just about bedside, there's so many different opportunities out there- but you may hve to start with it for the experience often required by nonbedside positions. Also, if you're in the right part of the country, you can hired within weeks of passing your NCLEX. Good luck.
I wouldn't consider myself a very compassionate person, yet I love my job. I always said I wanted to work in OR to have "little patient contact as possible." I love my job because I learn everyday. I don't feel like you can say that about many other careers.
Also, I became a nurse for the medical part of it-- I know that doesn't make sense, BUT Ive always wanted to be a doctor, but I honestly do not want to go through the schooling and energy it takes. I will be an NP within the next few years. I can't find myself to feel any compassion for my patients who I see discharged and readmitted 15 times a month for their own unhealthy habits. You can only teach so much. I know bedside nursing isn't for me, and i knew it before I even went into nursing school, but you gotta start somewhere. Snaps for those who love it, I admire you.
As for the OP, do whatever you want to do. Nursing isn't just about bedside, there's so many different opportunities out there- but you may hve to start with it for the experience often required by nonbedside positions. Also, if you're in the right part of the country, you can hired within weeks of passing your NCLEX. Good luck.
I don't think bedside nursing is the only nursing role that requires compassion. IDK where the generalization that compassion=good bedside nurse comes from.
The OP's question is if she can be a nurse if she doesn't not exude "compassion". Reading further, it's obvious TC doesn't consider herself a people person. Many bedside nurses who do just fine lack people skills. There is a clinical side to bedside nursing also.
I'd also take this moment to point out, compassion can be an asset anywhere in the nursing field. OR may not need 1:1 people skills as much, but I'm sure there are more than a few opportunities to show "compassion" regardless. Ever met the nurse manager who lacks "compassion" or people skills? Scary stuff.
Working in an ER, we see the same people over and over "who did this to themselves". I consider myself a compassionate person, but do tend to get tired of these. If my whole shift and every patient tended to make me feel fed up, I would hate my job. It sounds like that is how it would be for you all the time, which would not be good for you or your patients.
I have to work at not overreacting to the frequent flyers who refuse to help themselves, and not letting them affect my whole attitude for the night. Doesn't always work, and those tend to be my unhappier shifts. On the whole however, they don't. I like my job and my career; but it doesn't sound like nursing would really be a great fit for you.
How have clinicals gone for you? What patient interactions have you had? I agree with some of the others, you might try a health field with a little less personal contact; radiology, lab tech, etc.
Lot of what nursing is is emotional support during rough times while providing that excellent, scientific and educated care. We take care of the whole person, (nursing schools make a big deal of it).
perhaps look into working in research. i mean you are doing it to help people...but it's more scientific and you won't have to provide support to anyone such as a bedside nurse. I believe you should be empathetic when dealing with patients, just my opinion. Working on the corporate side of healthcare, I can tell you that healthcare is feeling the recession right now and it's going to get a bit worse before it gets better. Typically healthcare is one of the last to feel a hurting economy. So think hard about changing if security and money is what's most important to you, because from my standpoint you are not guaranteed either when i'm seeing our community hospitals report millions in losses and the larger city hospitals won't hire anyone without multiple years experience (and it doesn't matter what degree you had previously if you don't have clinical experience....although who you know can help and from your post it sounds as though you probably would use who you know as your family works in the field) Nursing isn't the only medical field... so you may want to look into some other fields within the medical community.
I haven't read any of the others replies yet. I would tell you to run and not walk out of nursing.
The pay is good in nursing however it is not equivalent to the work that we do.
Job security, yeah right. Anyone is replaceable in nursing.
So far as compassion...its not a prerequisite for being a nurse however you do need to be able to empathize. I just worry you won't be happy in nursing and it may come across on how you interact and deal with patients, especially the difficult ones.
In my opinion I do believe compassion should be in every nurse. Its' not and I've learned to accept that.
As long as you are competent and don't let your own judgments affect patient care you may be able to survive for a little while.
Nursing is challenging and yet rewarding. You will have good days and bad. I'm in nursing not for the money but because I actually do care and want to be apart of such a fulfilling profession.
Go head and flame me now. This is just my two cents.
I think that since you know how you feel it should make it easier for you to be a nurse if you want to be. I feel like you would be a good fit for the SICU or the OR. You would have less families and awake patients to deal with and you could do your job like you want to and go home. I like to meet people, but I also LOVE challenging situations, so I am working in a Neurosurgery stepdown unit, where we take care of 3 post op crani patients or post aneurysm patients. I get to talk to people and families and that is what I like to do. I wouldn't be a good fit for the ICU because I like to talk to my patients and get to know them, and thats kind of hard to do when they are sedated... lol. Good luck to you, and I think you will be a great nurse, even if it means that you end up in Nursing research or legal nursing.
You have received some good suggestions of areas that might suit your personality. I have only one suggestion-- hospice and palliative care are NOT for you. Compassion is a must in hospice. We always say of our patients " They don't care what you know until they know that you care!" Best of luck in whatever area you choose.
You have received some good suggestions of areas that might suit your personality. I have only one suggestion-- hospice and palliative care are NOT for you. Compassion is a must in hospice. We always say of our patients " They don't care what you know until they know that you care!" Best of luck in whatever area you choose.
I have a fairly important question regarding the personal requirements of nursing. Most of everyone in my family has some sort of medical degree and I am following suit (after a less than climactic career in engineering). I identify pretty well with the people in my family in regards to personality and they all have encouraged me so far in the nursing program, each telling me I will do very well.
So heres the issue:
I keep coming across references to "Compassion" being a "common sense requirement" to be a nurse. This DOES NOT click with me or my personality. I like to think I have a science based logic and frame of mind, I am goal oriented, and I love a good challenge, excitement, and nigh impossible deadlines. This I can see being useful in being a nurse. However, I am not that compassionate of a person. Most of the time I believe that what happens is a consequence of your own actions. I do not easily feel sympathetic towards people and quite honestly am very irritated by drama and over acting. I have read and come across information explicitly stating that this is the number one reason NOT to be a nurse.
I have to admit, I am doing it for the money and job stability. I will most likely never work full time and I will never bring my work home with me WHEN POSSIBLE. I don't feel sorry for the sick, the injured, the unfortunate - IMO thats the way the world turns. I am in no way christian, bhuddist, jewish, agnostic, atheist, etc... I relate to Pantheism if I had to pick something spiritual to believe in. I do not agree with religion and would never pretend to. This being said, I CAN hold my tongue - I am actually quite the pro at it. Edit: I should also mention that I am very capable and I am very professional in work situations. I exhibit respect for other's opinions and beliefs. I just won't fake my own.
I am very good at carrying out instructions, working with a clear mind, getting the job done objectively. When it comes to critical thinking I can get it done subjectively as well. Those boundaries are malleable - the ones that aren't are the ones concerning my emotions. I like people in general when they are not consumed with themselves or taking themselves too seriously.
Am I a recipe for disaster when I begin working as a nurse? Should I cut my losses and withdraw from my nursing program so far - (Which I enjoy the moderate challenge)
Without WANTING to help the sick and injured I can still be a great nurse in my opinion. I'm not saying I would have a problem carrying out the duties of a nurse, but honestly it isn't what I wake up wanting to do. I am not a Mother Teresa. I want to be a nurse, like I said, to have the money, flexibility, and job security. I didn't even consider being a nurse until I realized the pay rate and demand. Don't get me wrong - I will do the job and do it to the best of my ability and I will follow direction easily without involving my own opinions, but I will not pretend to be sympathetic or empathetic. Thats just me.
Anyone else feel this way? Are you a nurse that has a similar personality? If so please tell me your experience as a nurse.
EDIT: I am convinced that my lack of ability in being outwardly compassionate lends to my ability to "not freak out" in emergency situations. I have been known to carry out my responsibilities like nothing has happened. I wanted to be an EMT originally, but unfortunately they are paid like chumps... ):
I cannot imagine doing this job if I didn't get a profound sense of satisfaction from helping people when they need it. People who are sick aren't always easy to deal with, so sometimes the only "thanks" you get is knowing that you were there for them during a difficult and possibly scary time for them and that you helped them navigate it. I don't know how that would work without compassion and empathy.
AgentBeast, MSN, RN
1,974 Posts
Having compassion and being a good nurse are not mutually exclusive.