Introverted nurses

[NicoleLynch, ADN, BSN, RN]

Hopefully this is the right place to ask this question.

Do you consider yourself introverted and does it affect your job performance in a high-stress area, like a med/surg floor? How do you cope?

I worked on a med/surg floor briefly as a CNA and always got along well with my patients and most of the nurses. What I had a hard time with was the "atmosphere" for lack of a better word. The stressed out nurses who could be less than friendly, the doctors who were intimidating, the general go-go-go of the place... I admit that it made the day go quicker and I learned a lot, but I am just not sure that that is somewhere I want to end up when I do become an RN. I am a text book introvert. I love peace and quiet, or at least a more relaxed environment. I can handle stress, but it takes its toll on me by the end of the day and I have to go be by myself for awhile to recharge the ol' batteries.

I am a people person when I want to be, and genuinely loved my patients when I was working there, but I prefer to either be alone or work in a small group of people.

I am just curious if there are introverted nurses who deal with this daily or if anyone can give advice about other possible nursing areas to pursue? I actually really want to work in hospice, but I'm thinking I'll have to do at least a year on a med/surg floor for experience first.

Thanks!

[ICUNurseG]

I'm introverted (ISFJ on Meyers Briggs)but love my job. I work in icu. Yes it's stressful but I've never gone home thinking the stress was anything related to being around others all day. Maybe I'm not as introverted, though.

[TheCommuter, BSN, RN]

I'm very introverted (INTP). Working the night shift is my main way of coping because it reduces the amount of interaction with which I must contend. Most of the patients will be in bed and catching up on their sleep. Most of their visitors will be going home by a certain time. Management, dietary, medical records, case mgmt, administration, most doctors, and other disciplines aren't there to pull me in multiple directions.

Also, night shift is more calm and peaceful on most shifts. There's too much hustle and bustle for me on days. I'd rather die sooner by working night shift than be forced to deal with day shift.

[Pangea Reunited, ASN, RN]

I'm an INTJ and I do fine at work as a nurse. I don't have much social energy outside of work, though. My friends and family get neglected a bit.

[Ruas61, BSN, RN]

I am an INFJ. It is pretty accurate for leanings towards occupation and interests for me..

[akulahawkRN, ADN, RN, EMT-P]

I tend to waffle between the INTJ and ENTJ types. Generally speaking, I pretty much let stuff roll off my back. It's rare that something really bothers me to the point where I have to do something about it. The reason is simple: it just costs me too much energy to worry about stuff that I can't change... so only if it's really bothersome should I expend the energy. It usually doesn't cost me to deal with people, or for that matter, to be nice. What do I look for? I look for a place to work that has an "easy going" vibe, even if it's a fast-paced place.

[NicoleLynch, ADN, BSN, RN]

Thanks for the feedback! Forgive me for sounding ignorant, but is there a website or somewhere I can test myself to see just what type of introvert I am? I'm interested to find out.

[akulahawkRN, ADN, RN, EMT-P]

Here's just ONE example: Personality test based on C. Jung and I. Briggs Myers type theory Just go there and answer the questions and you'll have an idea what your personality is. There are others that ask similar questions and will give similar results. Google is a good friend in this kind of search. And your personality can shift a little bit on a day-to-day basis because of how you feel that day, but your general personality type should be fairly consistent over time.

eta: You shouldn't have to pay for the results if all you're looking for is personality type. So avoid those sites that ask you to enter info or pay for something.

[AmyRN303, BSN, RN]

I'm an INTJ and I do fine at work as a nurse. I don't have much social energy outside of work, though. My friends and family get neglected a bit.

I am too....I'm a new grad and not working yet, but I enjoyed my clinicals immensely. I often came home drained and needing a little alone time to recharge. I enjoy a fast-paced environment, honestly, but I try to balance that with chill out time at home.

[klone, MSN, RN]

I'm very much an introvert, and I've always done just fine as an RN, even in busy units. In my last floor nurse position, however, I had a hard time "bonding" with the other night shift staff because I don't do random chit chat and socializing well, and I got a reputation from some of them as being standoffish and cold. Otherwise, I've always gotten along well with all my coworkers and I do just fine with patients. I often come home mentally drained, though, which is magnified by three kids and a husband who all want my attention NOW.

ETA: Also an INTJ

[NicoleLynch, ADN, BSN, RN]

Thanks for the link, akulahawk. I took the test and got ISTJ.

Introvert(100%) Sensing(12%) Thinking(12%) Judging(100%)

• You have strong preference of Introversion over Extraversion (100%)
  
• You have slight preference of Sensing over Intuition (12%)
  
• You have slight preference of Thinking over Feeling (12%)
  
• You have strong preference of Judging over Perceiving (100%)
  

Very interesting! It's nice to see that you all are introverted as well and are making it work for you. I was honestly worrying about how I'd deal with it so your stories are comforting. :)

[NicoleLynch, ADN, BSN, RN]

I often come home mentally drained, though, which is magnified by three kids and a husband who all want my attention NOW.

I know what you mean. My husband is very much an extrovert and doesn't always understand when I need alone time. He tries though and is getting better but I often have to remind him that I need to be alone for a little while and nobody gets hurt. Hard to explain that to a 2-year-old though.