Is there any type of nursing....

[wabashcannon]

...that doesn't require a lot of nurse client interaction? I know this sounds dumb, but I'm known to be and generally perceived as a quiet person so interaction and communication is an obstacle for me.

[mcs1505]

If you're shy you could do ICU I guess, a lot of those patients are sedated, but not all of them. There's also a lot of nursing research that needs done too.

But nurse-patient interaction is a lot different (for me at least) than normal interactions outside the hospital. I can be really shy and kind of a loner outside the hospital, but I'm completely different when interacting with my patients. You might surprise yourself.

EDIT: There's also the NICU. They need lots of attention and interaction but they don't care if you're shy or not

[leslie :-D]

i'd consider forensic nursing.

leslie:)

[Mrs. M.]

Utilization Review, perhaps?

[Run.RN.]

As an edit to the second post...I would not recommend ICU if, as you mentioned, interaction and communication are obstacles for you. Your patient may be sedated, but you've got family to deal with, interns to correct (wink, wink) and everyone else in between to work with that has a say in your patient's care. Actually, this applies to all areas of nursing. What about focusing on research or something along those lines...?

[NotReady4PrimeTime, RN]

I wouldn't suggest NICU because of the volume of teaching needed by the parents and other family members. But there's almost no interaction with patients in the OR and in PACU.

[GOMER42]

OR? Your patients are unconscious

[CHATSDALE]

work in a lawyer's office or with insurance companies

chart review - blood bank - lots and lots of stuff

[NurseFreshMeat]

I would think most positions away from bedside nursing requires some clinical experience. I am new to nursing but I have seen research and forensics nursing positions requiring some clinical experience.

[BA.LVN]

You could do private duty nursing....generally, one patient and the family (whom you have to interact with daily, usually) but it's the same patient, day in, day out.

[michigooseBSN]

Wabash, Or you could look at this as an opportunity to work on your discomfort in interpersonal interactions. Your "shyness" will not improve or your comfort in social situations if you always avoid them. Perhaps get some professional help or guidance with this. Good luck.

[Flare, ASN, BSN]

I'll have to disagree with the poster that suggested forensic nursing. A great deal of forensic nursing is to work with victims of very sensitive crimes which requires a lot of personal interaction.

Even if you work for an insurance company doing claims or triage, you still need to interact with clients. Granted, much of it is on the telephone.

I think that Michigoose said it best - you may want to take a public speaking class to get more used to the idea of interacting with otehrs and overcoming your shyness.