Do you consider yourself a "highly sensitive person" ?

[Gentle Giant]

I just finished reading Elaine Aaron's book, "The Highly Sensitive Person." Do you identify as one? Take a self-test here: http://www.hsperson.com/pages/test.htm

There is a chapter in the book about HSPs and finding the right career. Ms. Aaron claims there are two classes of people: the "warriors" (non-HSPs, people on the front line) and the "royal advisors" (which includes many HSPs, some of who are behind the scenes).

I do identify as an HSP, but I'm now a bit worried/skeptical if nursing is right for me as I'm about to enter a BSN program soon. I, like some other HSPs, can feel overaroused in some situations, and can find it challening having to complete numerous tasks all at once. So, I'm curious to get thoughts from other nurses who identify as an HSP.

What are some pros and cons of having this trait as a nurse? How overwhelmed do you feel most of the time? How do you manage that? Do you think nursing is not a good choice for an HSP?

The book also claims that there are many positive traits of being an HSP, such as identifying subtleties and changes in environments, and being keenly aware of the suffering of others. Are there some advantages of being an HSP in nursing? I suspect many HSPs are drawn to nursing because of this compassion, but I'm also not sure how they manage the stress and overstimulation at times. For all you HSP nurses out there, what type of nursing environment works best for you, if any? What are some other thoughts?

[Future O.R. Nurse]

This is a great post! I worked in the O.R. and although you work with one patient at a time, everything you do is for that one patient. The only problem I found was dealing with the doctors and the interactions with other nurses. O.R nursing i already know is what I am cut out for. That's why I got my Surgical Tech Diploma before going to nursing school. So I would be well rounded when looking for an O.R. position. Other specialties such as plastic surgery, and doctor's offices may be a better fit for highly sensitive people.

[Up2nogood RN, RN]

I am a bit of both. I am highly sensitive in terms of intuition, reading people, sensing things, and picking up on obscure cues, and I also suffer from tactile hypersensitivity (for example, touching cotton balls with my bare hands feels like nails on a chalkboard). On the other hand though, I am pretty confrontational and a bit of an adrenaline junkie. Over the years, I've learned coping strategies for dealing with overwhelming input. I still don't like crowds and I'm still a little awkward in some social situations because sometimes I feel like I'm being bombarded with people's moods, interpersonal needs, etc, etc - but this is usually only when the group is splintered, unfocused, and not coordinated toward some common purpose. I do well at concerts and things of that nature because most everyone is focused on the music. But going to the zoo or an amusement park or a busy park, street market, or something where everyone is going in their own direction, I have to work harder to block out all the input.

Great, now I sound like a crazy person.

Sounds a lot like me!

To the OP, don't discourage yourself before you even begin! I scored high on this test too, but I feel that being highly sensitive to patients and their environment is beneficial and I've caught on to many s/sx that've prevented rapid responses. You will need to develop coping skills to not let the chaos overwhelm you. Personally that's why I work nights. I recently had some orientation on day shifts for a per diem job and it almost sent me over the edge;)

[HappydayRn]

I scored a 14, I cry during movie trailers so I'm not surprised. I work on a busy med surg floor but I generally do not get that horrid overwhelmed feeling anymore. I think being sensitive and empathetic helps me when dealing with families and dying patients. I would say I deal best with dying patients and families actually. One thing I've noticed is that although I am not detail oriented I mimic peoples emotions and personalities to some extent around them. I've found this to be an excellent strategy for developing relationships, it's something I do automatically. On the other hand I thrive on pressure I like to juggle lots of tasks at once. Loud noises and lots of people can give me panic attacks it was hard for me to work days while orienting. Just be careful you don't get compassion fatigue learn and set boundaries and you'll probably be okay wherever you are. Good luck!

[LikeSweetSoulMusic]

I relate a lot to this post and knew I was a highly sensitive person even before I took the assessment. As a new grad on a busy tele floor, I do get easily overwhelmed... especially with multiple complex admissions, transfers and discharges per shift. Phew. I hate when I can't focus on the patients as people, but I love it when I get a day that all of my patients stay put and I actually get to spend sometime with them!

I know that I eventually want to end up in hospice, home health or advocacy nursing, but tele is teaching me to not take so much to heart.

[whichone'spink, BSN, RN]

When I must compete or be observed while performing a task, I become so nervous or shaky that I do much worse than I would otherwise.

Oh yeah, I had a big problem with that last semester. It hurt me later, because I didn't get the chance to perform any skills that I learnt in lab. Other students were asked before I was because my instructor noticed that I did not do so well when I was observed. I try to relax, but to no avail. So the same thing will happen to me next semester and the semesters after that. I'll leave school without putting a foley, dropping an NG, starting an IV, doing a dressing change, or anything like that. I wonder if I should talk to my instructor beforehand. I'm not sure that will help, other than making me a "problem child" in her eyes.

[canesdukegirl, BSN, RN]

First of all, don't let a self test and a book dictate who you are and where your career goal should be. It is only a tool; you know yourself better than anyone, and something must have led you to the nursing profession. The beauty of nursing is that there are so many specialties and different areas of practice. If you love to be a "warrior", the ED has your name all over it! If you prefer to delegate and teach, you can be an educator or a nurse manager. The limitations of the nursing profession are what you choose them to be; i.e., you can do full time, part time, be a traveler, go per diem, private, etc.

A caveat: nursing school is hard stuff. You will be frustrated. You will wonder if it was the right thing to do. Really search your "soul inventory" to understand why you want to do nursing. There are many sacrifices that you must make in order to do well in school-you have to study quite a bit, you have clinicals to prepare for (and you will feel like a complete idiot because it is new, you are nervous and preceptors are not always helpful), you have exams to take, then you must take the NCLEX. It is something that you must be committed to. Once you are out of school and start your nursing career, the first year is tough as well, because you are learning the "real world" of nursing and what it entails. The fruits of your labor will be many. You will feel good about the things you do to help others, and the camaraderie that you have with your fellow nurses lifts you and strengthens you at the end of a hard shift.

It is difficult to juggle many tasks at one time, as nurses must do every day. When I was in college, I waited tables to help pay for tuition. It sounds weird, but the training that I got by waiting tables gave me a wonderful foundation for nursing. I learned how to do many things at once, I had to make sure everything was right and to the satisfaction of my customers, I had to learn how to work as a team with the kitchen staff and with my co-workers, and had to make sure that all of my tables had full drinks, any side items they requested such as more butter or bread, and I had to learn how to time things correctly. In nursing, I have to make sure that all of my patients have the correct paperwork while setting up for a surgical case, work with pre-op to ensure that my patient is ready for the OR, check with my surgeon to see that they have all the right equipment by working closely with Central Sterile, help my tech get all of the correct supplies and open the supplies in a sterile manner, supervising the flow of the room, calling ahead for the next patient while getting the current one extubated and comfortable. Different set of tasks, same principle.

I say take the traits that you have and find a good fit. If you are unsure, there are programs at hospitals that will allow you to shadow for a day, or for a few hours. Pick something that you are interested in and just observe. I think this might help you to figure out if the work that you will put into nursing school is the right thing for you.

[canesdukegirl, BSN, RN]

Oh yeah, I had a big problem with that last semester. It hurt me later, because I didn't get the chance to perform any skills that I learnt in lab. Other students were asked before I was because my instructor noticed that I did not do so well when I was observed. I try to relax, but to no avail. So the same thing will happen to me next semester and the semesters after that. I'll leave school without putting a foley, dropping an NG, starting an IV, doing a dressing change, or anything like that. I wonder if I should talk to my instructor beforehand. I'm not sure that will help, other than making me a "problem child" in her eyes.

Don't be so hard on yourself! Everyone is nervous when they are observed performing a task they have never done in the real world! Try some exercises like imagery-pretend you are all alone in the patient room and you are doing a run of the mill foley or IV stick. If you see yourself as a nurse already, a lot of the anxiety will abate. I would highly suggest talking to your instructor. They will not see you as a problem child, but rather a student interested in bettering themselves. This is SCHOOL and your instructors get PAID for teaching you! Make them earn that money! You will be better prepared and happy that you got some one on one instruction.

[atmananda]

Hey all,

I want to add that a highly sensitive person, as it's meant here, doesn't really refer to being emotional and shy, although a person identifying with this may have those characteristics. What it does mean is that a person processes stimuli and information differently. Think of it like a person with fair sensitive skin vs someone with more melanin and less sensitivity and how they process sunlight. The person with fair and sensitive skin can love the sun more than anything but staying outside in it for hours without shade or other protection will cause damage--this person will likely have burns and be in a lot of pain. The person without this sensitivity can be in the sun without experiencing the same effects. They may not care or want to be in the sun, but they CAN be without adverse reactions. I can see how the skin sensitivity may cause a person become hypervigilant about getting badly burned from the sun after experiencing this a few times whereas the other person, especially if there isn't an awareness of the sensitivity, may wonder 'what's your deal with the sun? It's nice out". The sensitive person may then avoid situations involving sun. I think the original issue is the wiring of the highly sensitive person followed by the reactions of those in their environment. While there is a kind of chicken-and-egg thing happening with this subject, one thing seems to be true--we can all be supportive of the people we love, know, or just meet. Not everyone's input volume is on the same level and just like we may speak more loudly to someone with a hearing deficit or tip-toe around quietly when a friend is sleeping, we need to give the same consideration to someone who may find relief from anything that may reduce the level of stimulation in that moment. It can be as simple as not rushing a thought or allowing a colleague the space to process information. I know I cannot be as thorough as I'd like in this post so if I didn't elaborate on a point and it reads wrong, I apologize beforehand. Message boards are great for getting our ideas out there but can be absolute mine fields when it comes to misunderstanding people...Thank goodness for the emoticons

[VivaLasViejas, ASN, RN]

I am a flaming extrovert, but also a highly-sensitive person who is basically thriving in nursing. I only wish this book had been written when I was a child so my parents might have understood me, instead of making fun of me for being easily overwhelmed by tags on clothing, ill-fitting shoes, loud noises and strongly-flavored foods. I even used to avoid playing games at birthday parties that involved balloons because I hated the sound of them popping (still do, for that matter). So I grew up thinking there was something "wrong" with me.......but I've also fought my entire life to overcome it and manage my discomfort with a chaotic, noisy, busy world. It CAN be done!

[akulahawkRN, ADN, RN, EMT-P]

I'm most certainly not a highly sensitive person at all. I do recognize that others are. I do try to be very mindful of the fact that others can often be VERY sensitive to environmental or emotional stimuli.

We're much more than what any test says that we are!

[fuzzywuzzy, CNA]

I got a 23 on that test and I'm not surprised. I can multitask with the best of them but if there's too much noise or bright lights or something I get very stressed out. I can't stand coming home from work on the weekends because my boyfriend is home and he'll have music playing or the TV on and be walking around and my dog will want attention and I feel like I'm going to burst!

[Tait, MSN, RN]

I am an HSP as well as my husband. I have the majority of the books to read during my "baby break" starting after next week, including The Highly Sensitive Child since I am pretty sure I am growing another HSP.

I love nursing. I find that keeping a tight handle on my organization helps cope with being overwhelmed, plus I am a strong multi-tasker. I notice that when things get too loud, or a particular nurse gets a little crazy, I do tend to get internally frustrated at times (mostly since I went to day shift, but I love it anyway!).

I have also noticed I build strong patient relationships quickly because I notice nuances in their behavior and can incorporate them into my care (i.e. anxiousness).

I know this thread is older, but it is still very interesting. :)