Nurse Personality

[trapped_in_light]

I have a bit of a different question for you

I'm volunteering right now at a Hospital Gift Shop and upgrading my courses in night school to start a college program (hopefully) for practical nursing

One of the hospital interns who talks to me at the shop once in a while said "can I give you advice? Don't work at the hospital"

I said that I wanted to go into nursing with time..

So he said that with "my personality" I could be only in delivery

So my question for you is- what's a "nurse" personality?

[Town & Country]

He must have been saying this out of concern for you.

There is no such thing as a "nurse personality."

True; nurses have to be pretty thick-skinned but that comes with experience.

From what you posted I'd say he is trying to protect you and save you grief; but I'm sure you're just as able as anyone else to do nursing. If it's what you want, go for it.

Or, next time you see him.....ask him what he meant.

[kristylee]

No one has the same personality and everyone is different. As long as you are a caring individual, you can work as a nurse in any area.

[Tweety, BSN, RN]

I agree, there is no nurse personality. There are all types of nurses from calm, cool and collected (me), to nervous nellies running around. There are mean old battleaxes (me if I have to be, LOL) to shy, quiet gentle types.

I'd like to think that empathy and compassion are inherent traits we all have. (Sadly that isn't always the case).

But the personalities of nurses are so all over the place, don't let anyway tell you don't have the personality to do what you want.

[UM Review RN, ASN, RN]

So he said that with "my personality" I could be only in delivery

So my question for you is- what's a "nurse" personality?

If nursing is what you really want to do, ignore him. Being an intern gives him no clue as to what a nursing education or nursing career entails.

You have to pretty much learn to duck insults about the profession or your "personality type" when you want to be a nurse, especially from people who no longer work at the bedside or have never worked as a nurse.

You only really need one quality as a nurse: the ability to keep slogging on through the muck. A really great nurse does it with a smile.

[UM Review RN, ASN, RN]

There are mean old battleaxes (me if I have to be

Here's a prime example.

Forgive me, Tweets, but I just can't picture this.

[Tweety, BSN, RN]

Here's a prime example.

Forgive me, Tweets, but I just can't picture this.

Trust me on this, I do have my "moments". But fortunately the are few and far between now that I've quit my charge nurse job.

[UM Review RN, ASN, RN]

Trust me on this, I do have my "moments". But fortunately the are few and far between now that I've quit my charge nurse job.

You quit? Oh my goodness, however will you manage without that extra 50 cents an hour???!!! :chuckle

Sorry, couldn't resist.

Anyhow OP, just remember that you can do this if you put your mind to it and stay the course.

[Jedi]

When getting ready to go into anything new, you are going to be impressionable because you have healthy anxiety about knowing whether or not you are making the right choice.

This person may think they are doing you a favor based on what he sees in the industry and how he feels about the industry himself. For every one person who thinks you should leave, another will tell you to stay.

I wouldn't let one person have a great influence on you. It's OK to listen to what people have to say, and it sounds like you should investigate your own feelings. I wouldn't take one persons words as the "gospel truth".

If you really want something, then go for it. "You have to stand for something, or you will fall for anything".

Jedi :balloons:

[zenman]

There have been quite a few studies on the types of personalities that go into certain medical specialities, so why not nursing? There's even a test on one website for MDs to pick an area that fits their personality. I'll try to remember where I saw it.

[Jedi]

Zenman!

Great response! Post the personality test when you find it if you do! I'm reentering nursing after being out for 5 years and I'm trying which specialty I'll start it. I've already done med-surg and cardiac and now I'd like to head toward ER, OR or ICU. I want to work in an atmosphere that is really teamwork oriented. Any comments, suggestions, etc? I'd love to hear from many RN's about what areas are seem to be team oriented.

Thanks!

Jedi

[Jedi]

Please excuse my spelling and grammatical errors. Guess I need to slow down a little!

Jedi