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.
I'm an INFJ and work drains me more often than not. I've also had similar problems connecting with co-workers because I don't do idle chit chat. I prefer night shift because there are less people around in general.
My only issue working night shift is that I am not a night person whatsoever. Always have been a morning person. I did work one night shift on my CNA orientation and I really enjoyed it other than it completely threw off my normal rhythm for the next few days. However, the atmosphere was a lot friendlier. The nurses on night shift worked together all the time so they were all super friendly with each other and with me as the newcomer. I liked that.
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. :)
You're welcome! Out of the bunch in this thread, I'm probably the least introverted in practice simply because I do waffle between introvert and extrovert, and can do so fairly easily. While I do lean toward introversion, I have tested as ENTJ as well. For you, though, you know your general personality type (not just introverted) and perhaps you can now keep an eye out for workplaces that fit what you need!
Also, now that you know... there are "character" versions of the same test. These can be "starwars" or which 80's action character, and so on. I don't put much stock in those, but they can be fun!
I consider myself shy and introverted, although am totally comfortable at work and fine with patients, family and doctors. The stress gets to me, but I don't think it has anything to do with being shy and is simply a normal reaction to the working conditions where the nurse is supposed to do everyone else's job plus, the hassle of the computer and endless alarms blaring! Honestly, who wouldn't be stressed! We are the only ones being micromanaged with the computer and expected to do everything. All the rest of the staff can say it's not my job and walk away! We don't have that luxury. More work just keeps getting piled on esp now with epic and being expected to put in the doctors orders because why have a secretary when the nurse can do her job too!
Nichole--What an interesting topic! My training was so long ago that probably neither Myers or Briggs were even born yet! But later when I took the tests and found out I was an ISTJ, I questioned why I went into nursing, a field which didn't seem to fit my personality. However, I always got along well with patients and their families. I could "mentally"
put on my '"nurses cap" for as long as my shift lasted.Some areas of the hospital, like OR or ED, didn't appeal to me at all! I don't deal well with groups of people who are running here and there, or who want to socialize with each other at the same time they work.
My ideal shift is one where I can come in, start to work right after report, and concentrate on my work and my patients til the shift is over. I like to be pleasant with co-workers, but am not much for chit-chat. Usually, I was the last to know who was getting divorced (or married) who was pregnant, who was "fighting" with whom or why, who was planning a big event or trip or what rumors were floating around the hospital...I seldom knew the current gossip. (That's a mixed blessing). Occasionally, I had co-worker friends with whom I could enjoy outside activities.
I, too, eventually found the lack of hub-bub on the night shift comforting. Emergencies were hectec with fewer staff on duty, but we could usually get temporary help from ED or ICU if needed. After the tragic death of our head nurse who worked days, I was asked to take her place. I considered it a great compliment. But after a few months I was exhausted, and so consumed with projects, evaluations and meetings, trying to please so many people, that about all I could manage was to work, eat and sleep. Finally, sheepishly, I asked to return to night shift.
A few years later, I began work as a "nurse consultant" for an agency that supervised developmentally disabled adults in group homes. I worked as an independent contractor, set my own hours, taught med administration, got prescriptions renewed, ordered, delivered. I accompanied clients to Dr. appointments, did many treatments and dressings (or taught others how) and held inservices for our host home providers. I was on call 24/7, but even with that, it was an interesting job and one I really enjoyed! Being an ISTJ was no impediment at all.
You are what you are. You can certainly find a place in nursing. Hospice, as you mentioned, could be good. Not every nurse can do that! You just need to look around.
Nichole--What an interesting topic! My training was so long ago that probably neither Myers or Briggs were even born yet! But later when I took the tests and found out I was an ISTJ, I questioned why I went into nursing, a field which didn't seem to fit my personality. However, I always got along well with patients and their families. I could "mentally"
put on my '"nurses cap" for as long as my shift lasted.Some areas of the hospital, like OR or ED, didn't appeal to me at all! I don't deal well with groups of people who are running here and there, or who want to socialize with each other at the same time they work.
My ideal shift is one where I can come in, start to work right after report, and concentrate on my work and my patients til the shift is over. I like to be pleasant with co-workers, but am not much for chit-chat. Usually, I was the last to know who was getting divorced (or married) who was pregnant, who was "fighting" with whom or why, who was planning a big event or trip or what rumors were floating around the hospital...I seldom knew the current gossip. (That's a mixed blessing). Occasionally, I had co-worker friends with whom I could enjoy outside activities.
I, too, eventually found the lack of hub-bub on the night shift comforting. Emergencies were hectec with fewer staff on duty, but we could usually get temporary help from ED or ICU if needed. After the tragic death of our head nurse who worked days, I was asked to take her place. I considered it a great compliment. But after a few months I was exhausted, and so consumed with projects, evaluations and meetings, trying to please so many people, that about all I could manage was to work, eat and sleep. Finally, sheepishly, I asked to return to night shift.
A few years later, I began work as a "nurse consultant" for an agency that supervised developmentally disabled adults in group homes. I worked as an independent contractor, set my own hours, taught med administration, got prescriptions renewed, ordered, delivered. I accompanied clients to Dr. appointments, did many treatments and dressings (or taught others how) and held inservices for our host home providers. I was on call 24/7, but even with that, it was an interesting job and one I really enjoyed! Being an ISTJ was no impediment at all.
You are what you are. You can certainly find a place in nursing. Hospice, as you mentioned, could be good. Not every nurse can do that! You just need to look around.
Thanks for sharing your story, DosmoRN! You sound a lot like me, which makes sense if we're both ISTJ. I don't get consumed with gossip or rumors and try to avoid them, in fact. I have a small handful of friends who are wonderful and could give or take acquaintances. I've never been a "leader" and have always been more inclined to follow, and much more comfortable. I don't see that as a bad thing but it seems that leadership is something a lot of employers look for when hiring new employees. I think, like you, a perfect nursing job for me when I eventually get there would be to do something like the nurse consultant job that you mentioned. Being able to essentially work for myself would be amazing and right up my alley. Thanks for your words of support! Very much appreciated! :)
I actually changed careers from an introverted field (research) to nursing. One reason I got into acute care and emerg is because of the challenges of working closely with many people and being able to develop rapport with patients. I truly see it as a challenge, every day at work is a learning experience and developing a proficiency that doesn't come naturally. But I think one common thread that most posters have highlighted it is that the social aspect of working is quite exhausting for most introverts, and there's a cost to friends and family.
I like what someone said about being picked out to be management. Some of the best nursing managers I've had are introverts, and I find a surprising number of people considered "opinion leaders" or "mentors" are introverted. I feel like it's because we are very objective and focused when it comes to workplace relationships: it is a means to get the job done. Therefore, many introverts will not bother to retaliate when there is some snide rumor about them going around, and will not feel guilty "faking" a bit of camaraderie with someone they're going to be partnered with for several weeks. We spend our limited "social energy" on the political games that matter and ignore the ones that don't, that's why many of us may be picked for leadership.
grandpaj
206 Posts
I'm an INFJ and work drains me more often than not. I've also had similar problems connecting with co-workers because I don't do idle chit chat. I prefer night shift because there are less people around in general.