New Nurse, New Friends!

[nursything]

Hello!

I am JUST starting my very first job as a nurse. It's been a couple weeks and I have met people in my age group on the unit who are also just starting and we will be working the night shift together. So far, everyone is very nice, but I'm so overwhelmed with getting the nursing stuff down that I have not put a lot of energy into making new friends. See, I REALLY need more of a social life. All my friends from college are spread out or drifting away and I'm getting kind of lonely now that I don't fill all my time with classes, work, and studying. I'm very shy and not good at making new friends. Any words of wisdom or advice?

Thanks!!

[Art_Vandelay]

I wouldn't force anything. I would focus on your patients(as you are), and friendships will develop over time. I have great friends from previous nursing workplaces. You'll find introverts out there too. Good luck!

[westieluv]

Always be willing to help the other nurses on the unit out when they need it, because we all get busy and overwhelmed at times. Whenever someone that I worked with would go out of their way to help me when I needed it and without me asking them to, I always had a special place in my heart for them and friendship just sort of developed on its own...and I'm quite shy myself. It always goes back to the two wise quotes that have withstood the test of time:

"If you want a friend, be a friend."

"Do unto others as you would have them do unto you."

Follow that and you can't go wrong, IMHO.