For those who have been called shy or quiet by your instructors

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For those of you who have been called shy or quiet by your instructors:

I have seen quite a few people post about these situation, so I thought I would address it.

In nursing school, not one, but two of my instructors told me I was too quiet and didn't ask enough questions. I asked them to give me examples, yet they failed to do so. I felt like they were attacking my character and my personality What exactly is too quiet? As long as my patients are tended to, and I'm learning the material that should have been all they were concerned with. Instead they were concerned with aspects of my personality that did not and would not relate to my future performance as a nurse. Being "quiet" makes me a great listener, an efficient and productive worker, and gives me the ability to empathize with others. These nursing instructors were Type-A, aggressive personalities and they just didn't see that someone could be different from them and still be a good nurse. Well, I am a great nurse! I did not ask questions, but I did not have any. I knew my material without needing to ask additional questions. I graduated a 16 month BSN program with a 4.0! I have been a RN for 4 years and will be attending a nurse practitioner program in the fall. Do not let those instructors get you down! They are not doing their job as a teacher by saying those things. There is room in the field of nursing and this world for many different personality types, not just pushy ones. ;-) You will be a great nurse, not matter what those insecure instructors say!

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Specializes in Critical Care, ED, Cath lab, CTPAC,Trauma.

I too was told by my first semester nursing instructor that I was not a team player and a loner...that was 35 years ago. Bless her heart.

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Specializes in Med/ Surg/ Telemetry, Public Health.

So glad things worked out for you, and to know there's others out there like me. I am a quiet and reserved person. I grew up as an only child. One of my instructors said that to me a lot the first semester. As the semesters progressed I became comfortable with the instructors, classmates and facilities. I feel as if my nursing duties come first then chit chatting. As long as my patients are well taken care of then that's all that matters. Trust and believe I speak up when I need to in what ever situation. That's who I am, and I refuse to pretend or act a certain way, that's not my personality.

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I, too, was told by my first clinical instructor that I was "too shy" to be a nurse. I have since been an acute care nurse for 10 years. I learned that it takes all kinds of personalities to care for patients.

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I'm shy, too and I haven't started nursing school yet. Will start this fall. But I'm worried how I'll do. I'm thinking I'll open up as I go along but I'm sure I'll get singled out as you guys did.

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KUDOS!!!!

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Specializes in Pediatric Hematology/Oncology.

A person I mentored got singled out for this, too, and took it as a personal attack. However, the way our program works, it kind of helps the instructors out with our evaluations if they can pick you out of crowd. I am relatively shy as well but I know I have to give them something to go on and developing a good rapport with them is not necessarily a bad thing. I know it takes all kinds to do every kind of work but with how competitive nursing school is, I know I had to step it up. As for the person I mentored, she is still defensive and struggling significantly. I was hoping that she would open up a little bit as time wore on but it seems to have only gotten worse. Oh well...them's the breaks. But seriously, even if you're shy, attempt to talk to your instructors. Let them know you're mentally present (this goes doubly for BSN programs, too). Once you graduate and get a job, you can do your own thing and revel in the independence and autonomy that comes with being an RN.

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Specializes in Pediatric Hematology/Oncology.
I'm shy, too and I haven't started nursing school yet. Will start this fall. But I'm worried how I'll do. I'm thinking I'll open up as I go along but I'm sure I'll get singled out as you guys did.

If you get singled out, what's the worst that can happen? Nothing, really. The only reason these instructors push and poke and prod is because a common perception with shy people is that they don't speak up, don't communicate effectively. Nurses are frequently a bit bossy and not afraid to speak their minds as a function of advocating fiercely for their patients. You have to communicate. You have to speak up. Even if you don't otherwise say much, being on point with communicating your assessments to your instructors will take you far. "See something, say something" is a big theme in nursing. You cannot hesitate for a single moment. If you don't speak up and the instructors single you out, you deserve it, you must learn from it and you must not take it personally. That's why those instructors get on shy people so hard. They are directing you to function as a competent nurse within the health care system. They aren't trying to change your personality. For me, I'm relatively shy but I have no qualms with being a loudmouth in clinical. However, when I'm not there, I'm pretty quiet and my normal self. I do like that nursing has brought me out of my shell more considerably. That's a perk and I'm taking it as it comes.

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Watch this. And never worry about this again.

Susan Cain: The power of introverts | Talk Video | TED.com

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Specializes in Med Surg, PCU, Travel.

Thanks for the inspiration.

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That was a great read. I'm going to save to come back to if I need to later. I'm starting school in a couple of weeks.

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Specializes in med, surg,trauma, triage, research.

GrnTea thanks for the Susan Cairn link, what an inspiration she is, love this subject and the support its getting...

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