Shy Student Nurse Advice...

[jsh21340]

Hello fellow nursing students. I'm here today to ask for advice about being a shy student nurse. This is my first year as a nursing student and I do not wAnt to be shy anymore (not like I chose this) but I just don't know how. I read older post (2009-2010) about shy nurses that really helped me but It would be great to know that:

1.) I'm not the only shy person here as of 2012 in the nursing program

2.) How can I go about this year gaining confidence and interactions from others?

I'm tired of focusing on myself (you know the whole shy thing) I want to focus on others. That is what being a nurse is all about, right!

I have made efforts to try to break my shyness though...such as making more eye contact, speaking to at least one new person in my class, and smiling but some days I just get depressed because I feel others just don't understand me and make little comments that really hurt my feelings.

For example I was in a group last Friday and everyone was talking so loudly and I could barely get a word in so I shut down and didn't say anything. I want to make friends so badly but I feel like its just to late and no one wants or is willing to give me a shot

Thanks everyone in advance to helping me on the road to becoming a more confident student nurse. God bless you all.

[Ginnym1981]

I'm also shy when it comes to making small talk with those I really don't know. (once I know someone, I'm kinda loud, sarcastic and opinionated )

Getting there takes time though and just now, going into my fourth term, I'm finding myself comfortable around MOST of my classmates but still uncomfortable with most of my teachers. Whenever I try to talk I can feel myself getting tongue tied, mostly because I talk too fast (nerves). And public speaking? Forget about it! It doesn't matter if I know everyone....I shake all over, my knees literally shake so much it looks like I'm tapping my foot, my face turns as red as a tomato and I get so hot. It sucks.

What I've done to try to overcome this is join my schools SNA. I'm treasurer and we are the voices of the students. If problems arise, it's us who have to take it to the instructors or the dean. We have to make announcements to other cohorts of things we are doing like fundraisers, volunteer opportunities as well as call organizations to set up these things.

I'm really hoping this will help with the public speaking thing and speaking my instructors.

Anyways, you are definitely not alone. Just keep challenging yourself to get out there and people will take notice.

Try setting up a study group, make a facebook page/group thing and let your cohort know about it so you guys have a place to ask questions and vent (I did this also), if you guys have a place to hold them you can bring in plastic silverware, napkins etc to get noticed (we have a big file cabinet drawer in our commons area and we take turns bringing them in).

We also do potlucks every now and again. After class is out or during a break we all gather and eat and visit with each other. Maybe you could suggest something like that?

Good luck!!

[Skips, MSN, RN]

I can definitely relate. Social situations are lost on me. I've had to figure out how to talk with people and *force* myself to have eye contact with people until I got it. I wasn't natural with eye contact ever, and I still am not natural with it. I have to think about it. I also have to think about what to say with small talk, and when the appropriate time is to talk, as I sometimes accidentally interrupt people. D: I'm getting evaluated for Asperger's Syndrome sometime soon, though. It may be more than just being shy with me. I'm not afraid of people, per se. I just don't understand how to interact with them, and I'm not quite sure if they understand me as well.

I feel more comfortable with the thought of talking to patients than classmates.

[jsh21340]

Thanks so much for you guys comments and advice. I look at your post and Im like "that is so me!!!" Making a facebook page would be an awesome way of meeting my classmates and interacting with them as well as questions and study tips. And Im definetly gonna get involved in my SNA. I still dont know if I will try to be appointed anything yet though maybe next semester . Im so glad you all are knowing that being shy doesnt mean you are alone. Im learning that too. Ive started to realize that other people in my class are just as nervous and scared as I am with clinicals and labs. I've been constantly trying to make efforts to talk to people, make eye contact, and smile. Ive noticed I do talk fast (I guess so I can get it all out) and interrupt people so I need to work on that. Overall Ive noticed great changes so far and made some new school buddies. Work in progress with us shy nurses but eventually we are gonna get to the point where we can accept ourselves just the way we are.

I also passed Handwashing, unoccupied beds, and restraints!!!! I thought I was gonna do badly on unoccupied beds and restraints because I kept fumbling over my words but I did it. I'm my so happy.

Im loving all the advice and stories. KEEP IT COMING...