What are great fields in nursing for a shy/quiet person?

CASTLEGATES · Oct 14, 2012

Experience leads me to not regard "shy" or "not shy." For me, when I'm evaluating potential employees, it's "Capable and confident" or "unsure and possibly untrustworthy." A sense of insecurity can lead to mistakes and even dishonesty in a heartbeat (in general, not you in particular). It's a matter of maturity and with maturity comes knowledge of one's own limitations. I guess you could say I was "shy" beginning my career but after I knew that I knew what I knew and had to certifications to match, no one could question what I knew and how I practiced (always willing to learn new evidence based practice but it replaced my insecurity and shyness). I interpret the word "shy" the same as "not confident" or "insecure with one's skills." Go to an ER or and ICU with seasoned nurses, regardless of personality type or even age and you don't see "shy" qualities in the highly trained professionals. "Shy isn't a professional quality. Don't sweat it, that's what clinical time and preceptor time is there for. Sure we have our inherent preferences, but the over self awareness will wilt when faced with experience and knowledge and a code or two. It will replace the shyness with the maturity of a seasoned nurse. I would gently suggest less self awareness and self-focus, more nursing knowledge and sureness about what you're embarking on. Learn and know what you know and you will breathe the confidence patients will feel when you walk into the room. Patients have a very difficult time with staff who are self absorbed or too self aware. It naturally causes uneasiness and mistrust. You DON'T want that. In any medical setting, it's about the patient, clinical findings and your maturity to give of one's self without jeapordizing your own integrity. Maturity and professionalism. This takes the dedication only a year of floor duty and a couple deaths can conquer (to oversimplify).

Having said that, I'm normally a "quiet" person, but I LOVE interacting with my patients, because I get so much positive results from the work I do. I truly feel I make a difference (:geek:and I do so being "quiet)!

CASTLEGATES · Oct 14, 2012

My advice? Don't sweat it, the shyness goes away with any nursing job but you cannot escape interaction and being sought for your knowledge at any level. We're resource people, so they hunt our shy selves down! :x3:

Altra, BSN, RN · Oct 14, 2012

Shy isn't a professional quality. Don't sweat it, that's what clinical time and preceptor time is there for. Sure we have our inherent preferences, but the over self awareness will wilt when faced with experience and knowledge and a code or two. It will replace the shyness with the maturity of a seasoned nurse.

Love this post -- would give it a thousand "likes" if I could.

Thanks, CASTLEGATES. :)

bluesnurse · Oct 14, 2012

I'm extremely quiet and introverted, and have been a successful nurse for 8+ years. We did the Myers-Briggs Inventory in one of my BSN classes, and the overwhelming majority were strong Extroverts. I was the only INFP of 40 students :blink:

My best advice would be to find a role in which you are responsible for only one or two patients at a time. My first job was on a telemetry unit with 5-6 patients at a time, and my brain couldn't keep up (I was also a terrible waitress if I had more than 2 tables!) I've since worked in CCU, a cardiology office, and am now in a hospital-based diagnostic cardiology lab. I manage more patients in a day now than I did on tele, but it's one every 1-2 hours, then they go home or to another department. Most of it is moderate sedation for transesophageal echos; I also rotate through the echo and nuclear stress labs. I love it, and it doesn't overwhelm my energy to the point where I panic and lose focus.

Other good options are endoscopy, dialysis, wound care, diabetes education, research, phone triage, transplant coordination, case management, infection control, and safety officer. Patient advocacy is one of our most important responsibilities as nurses, and if you're not shy about that, we need you!

Most of the above will require some prior experience, and you may not get your pick of jobs as a new grad. As a bedside nurse I preferred night shift; it's just as busy but with fewer distractions and a (generally) cooler crew. If you can hang in there long enough to get a year or two of experience, you'll be better position to find something that fits your personality better. Best wishes!

ashleyisawesome, BSN, RN · Oct 15, 2012

I'm extremely quiet and introverted, and have been a successful nurse for 8+ years. We did the Myers-Briggs Inventory in one of my BSN classes, and the overwhelming majority were strong Extroverts. I was the only INFP of 40 students
My best advice would be to find a role in which you are responsible for only one or two patients at a time. My first job was on a telemetry unit with 5-6 patients at a time, and my brain couldn't keep up (I was also a terrible waitress if I had more than 2 tables!) I've since worked in CCU, a cardiology office, and am now in a hospital-based diagnostic cardiology lab. I manage more patients in a day now than I did on tele, but it's one every 1-2 hours, then they go home or to another department. Most of it is moderate sedation for transesophageal echos; I also rotate through the echo and nuclear stress labs. I love it, and it doesn't overwhelm my energy to the point where I panic and lose focus.
Other good options are endoscopy, dialysis, wound care, diabetes education, research, phone triage, transplant coordination, case management, infection control, and safety officer. Patient advocacy is one of our most important responsibilities as nurses, and if you're not shy about that, we need you!
Most of the above will require some prior experience, and you may not get your pick of jobs as a new grad. As a bedside nurse I preferred night shift; it's just as busy but with fewer distractions and a (generally) cooler crew. If you can hang in there long enough to get a year or two of experience, you'll be better position to find something that fits your personality better. Best wishes!

oh hi fellow INFP! i agree about the night shift thing, its a much more friendly environment for introverts. i love it, its just hard to get used to the sleeping schedule.

i currently work on a med/surg floor that is mostly surgical. its busy, and challenging, and although i like it right now, i can see myself getting burned out quick. i would love to do wound care some day!