introverted nurses -what is the best job?

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im an introvert who is having a hard time only recently. for some reason i know it is hurting me regarding jobs. is psych a good field to go into for an introvert? home care was ok but it seems instead of nurses the families were looking for friends or maids.

I am also kind of introverted...not to say that I am socially inept or that I am scared to interact with other people. In fact, I always get along great with my patients, especially those that are difficult to deal with. BUT...I like to go to work and get stuff done, not looking to chit chat about personal matters, not interested in everyone else's life or telling them all about mine. So, I have the perfect job...I am an RN on the FLOAT TEAM. Every night I have a different assignment on a different floor. I know the nurses just well enough to know who I can trust to help me if needed and generally no one backs me into a corner to tell me all about their personal problems. The best part about it is that I have found that the REALLY nice nurses, the ones that I would actually like to talk to, become very apparent. They are the ones who smile and say hi when I show up on their floor, they say hi when we see each other in the cafeteria, etc.

So, that's my vote for the best job for us "introverts", the float team! :twocents:

1 Votes

I find that i tend to do best with positions that keep me busy (mentally/physically) and with a fair amount of autonomy. Psych was not my favorite...i found the borderline's exhausting..but who doesnt? :)

Specializes in School Nursing.

I am a school nurse and an introvert. For me it is a good fit. I don't mind talking to the little kids, it is adults that drain me, LOL! I am the only nurse, although I do "socialize" with the office staff at least enough to not be considered a snob, and I have become friends with one teacher and one office staff person. There are days when people (adults and kids alike) are in and out of my office all day, or I have to spend what seems like the entire day on the phone, or one of those parents come in who is a BIG talker, and I come home absolutely drained. For the most part, I keep to myself in my office and take care of the kids as they come in.

I enjoyed reading this thread. I can come off as shy because I don't divulge my personal feelings or what I did last night for that matter with people I don't know or don't trust. The nurses where I work share way too much in my opinion:uhoh3:

Wow you sound exactly like me when I first started. Co workers would say I dont smile enough and I always found myself NOT in the "in" crowd. Yet I always connected well with my patients.

I soon found out that as a nurse it was essential to form a good working relationship with all members of the team. Even if it meant faking it.

I learned this lesson a little too late. But I did learn that being assertive, friendly, and smiling with others goes a long way.

Maybe try smiling more even if you dont chit chat much. :)

Specializes in Clinicals.

I'm so glad that OP posted this. I am definitely an introvert. Social siuations totally drain me. I prefer to interact via forums and facebook :D. I have one really close friend and other than that I pretty much keep to myself. I feel that I struggled with nursing school because of this. Although in my last semester I got alot better. I haven't started working yet so I guess we will see how it goes. I just hate trying so hard to be social when its not consistent with my personality.

Specializes in ER, ICU, Education.

PI, QA etc lots of data collection.

Specializes in CCU.

I'm definitely an introvert to the core. I struggled through nursing school and had people doubt my abilities all the time because I don't socialize enough. Especially nights, lots of chit chatty nurses talking about any and everything. I'm currently a new grad in the ICU and hate it. I think my niche may be the OR but it will take some time getting there. Actually I had thought about psych b/c maybe I would be able to relate to the pts more b/c of my social anxiety.

This thread has also been very helpful to me. It's been a struggle for me getting so exhausted while in clinicals...I can be friendly somewhat talkative, and optimistic with fellow students at times, but I often find that at some point I have to go into a room alone to breathe and think. I've also been in denial of it for a while, thinking if I just try hard enough it will change. I think it's true that you should flex your social "muscles" and work on improving your skills, but if it's just too draining then accept it. I'm going to look into these job suggestions for introverted nurses, because I have yet to find my niche that I will actually feel comfortable with and enjoy day to day. I thought I wanted to be in psych at first because I feel I make connections and am very good at helping people feel comfortable and that they aren't being judged. Then I shifted to thinking about rehabilitation, because I could have lots of one-on-one interactions with patients. Now thinking differently because I'm accepting that I'm a bit of an introvert! I won't beat myself up about it, but I also won't accept this as my only option. After all sometimes, practice makes perfect!

Specializes in Peds OR as RN, Peds ENT as NP.

Be an assertive introvert if going to the OR. It is the perfect place for me.

I'm a complete introvert. I'm not shy. Busy nursing station=torture. I am looking to find the right fit for me, and bedside nursing is NOT IT. I love medicine, and believe it or not am very nurturing. I just HATE small talk. Sometimes I'm terrified I've picked the wrong career. It's strange, because it feels right in all other ways. 8( I always get "criticized" for being "too quiet." Or I'm too much of a "closed book." I work on a very busy cardiac floor. Too much sensory stimulation/input!! Drains me to my soul on a daily basis.

Pacu, recovery room, or OR! Your patients will be sleeping most of the time lol

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