ISTJ Nurse Specialty Recommendation

[ISTJ nurse]

I graduated with my BSN two years ago and immediately started working in an ICU. After two years of working in ICU, I am still stressed at work (still hate code blues). As an ISTJ, I am logical, practical, typically decide based on logic instead of emotions, and introverted. I tend to prefer being alone reading or spending time with my family.

This year I am planning on applying to graduate school. I am considering nursing education, family nurse practitioner, and CRNA school. Any suggestions? My goal is to find a specialty that suits my ISTJ personality. After shadowing, I can see myself in family medicine and education. I have not shadowed a CRNA. To pursue CRNA school, I need to work in a cardiac ICU, which sounds extremely stressful for me.

Thank you for your time in advance!

[SummerGarden, BSN, MSN, RN]

Good for you for learning about your personality and seeking a career that might fit! My only advice to you is to look further into what ISTJ means and what careers (broadly) fit in order to find a nursing specialty that is something you feel will make you happy. You may end up choosing something away from bedside and patient care or you may not. Just a heads up, all nursing careers are stress related. However, not all require the same amount of patient/family interaction, which as an introvert may be a trigger of your stress (Introverts are drained by social interaction whereas extroverts are energized by social interactions). Good luck! ?

[ISTJ nurse]

Thank you so much Summer Garden. I appreciate the advice and think that a position away from the bedside may be best.

[Uroboros, APRN]

Philosophy is just fascinating, if you think about it, pun intended. Interests me your archetypal choice of ISTJ, and practice in ICU where every bell and whistle exists non-stop. As a reductionist myself, I did not appreciate the hyperstimulus environment either, but continue to enjoy challenges of acute care only if moonlighting.

When considering grad school years ago I asked myself the same question. But if you're thinking CRNA will be any less stressful think again my friend. Since anesthesia holds the highest risks, and these APRNs are always near top of the list for BNE discipline and litigation. I'm sure you've looked at CRNA tuition as well. Mostly that, along with the idea of still doing shift work took me down the NP track.

As an NP with multiple specialty certs, and finishing a PhD, I continue to teach and run a growing practice. The diversity I found and immediate return on my more reasonable education investment has been with little regret. May I simply suggest consider your career over the long term, and maintain a series of short term and long term goals. Compare your goals to your job market and location. Give yourself room to grow into whatever career path you choose. Because the only thing that stays the same is everything changes, including our personality types or subtypes over time.

Check out living Stoicism in an Epicurean society. I've played in some literature on this, your ISTJ post brought a lot of that material to mind. Best wishes on your journey.

[ISTJ nurse]

Thank you for the topic recommendation. I just found an amazon book on this titled "How to Be an Epicurean: The Ancient Art of Living Well." I cannot wait to read this. Thank you Uroboros!

After some personal research and your advice, I am sort of leaning on obtaining my FNP and a post-masters in nurse education.

[Enarra, BSN, RN]

There’s also nurse researcher, pharmaceutical consultant, nursing informatics (me) plenty to do I don’t read into personality typing too much. It’s a tool not fortune teller. Try different specialties see what works for you. I tried 4 specialties and none fit I’m on specialty #5 back to school for nurse informatics.

[ISTJ nurse]

Thanks Enarra! I will keep trying specialties to figure out my interests.? Glad you found a specialty that suits you.