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?
A wise poster here once said if nurses don't define their own profession, everybody else will be happy to do it for them. I completely agree. :)
SO TRUE!!! Nursing covers sooooooo many areas and disciplines and cultures and..... and.... and.... if we all had the same personality-- it wouldn't work!
If you are passionate about seeing peoples needs met -- you ought to be a decent nurse -- whether at the bedside, educating, supervising, LTC, pediatrics, OR, ER...... HOW you make sure that happens may be a direct result of your personality type -- but I think the great nurses are the ones who do what they can to 1) take care of their patients, 2) take care of temselves and 3) take care of their profession. Don't ever let someone else determine what you are going to be "right" for -- if you really want to do something -- try it! If it doesn't fit... it doesn't fit -- try something else -- but whatever you try to do -- do it because you want to do it, because you are passionate about it and be your best!!!!
I took the Myers-Briggs test in college several years ago and came out INFJ.
Basically this means I'm very introspective, quiet, and have a vivid imagination. (Very true!) And I HATE confrontation--also true for my type. I'm probably the opposite of the "nurse personality", although my former boss told me that I've become more vocal and assertive.
SO TRUE!!! Nursing covers sooooooo many areas and disciplines and cultures and..... and.... and.... if we all had the same personality-- it wouldn't work!
If you are passionate about seeing peoples needs met -- you ought to be a decent nurse -- whether at the bedside, educating, supervising, LTC, pediatrics, OR, ER...... HOW you make sure that happens may be a direct result of your personality type -- but I think the great nurses are the ones who do what they can to 1) take care of their patients, 2) take care of temselves and 3) take care of their profession. Don't ever let someone else determine what you are going to be "right" for -- if you really want to do something -- try it! If it doesn't fit... it doesn't fit -- try something else -- but whatever you try to do -- do it because you want to do it, because you are passionate about it and be your best!!!!
Well thank you :)
It was just that I thought that maybe you need to have certain "attitude" to fit in because I thought maybe it's a very demanding job in terms of your relationships with patients and doctors
Specializes in Education, Acute, Med/Surg, Tele, etc.
Well, I believe that we all have parts of ourselves we put into nursing, and take away from nursing...good and bad. The thing is to realize any strengths and weaknesses you possess as a unique individual..and know them realistically and well!
Say for instance I have a friend thinking of going into nursing. I warned her of her weakeness I could forsee that would have her miserable and burning out in no time...if she wants to continue, then at least she knows it may be a potential for personal dissatisfaction!
She is a 'giver' with no thought to receiving. And this can be a danger zone! You can't deal with multiple situations without protecting yourself emotionally and simply just giving..there has to be a reward system for yourself so that you don't hit a seirous depression or very bad outlook at the meaning of life. You may not get a 'reward' from a bad sitation..we all know that one quiet well...but you can take it upon yourself to give your own 'reward' for hard work and dedication come thick or thin! Or there are times when just seeing a smile from a client, or a kind word works wonders..and you have to know how to receive this so it lightens your spirit and keeps you going!
I am taking Japanese Flower Arranging, and Bonzai classes so that when I come home on those days where I felt like all I did was give give give and no one appreciated it, or those days I felt I did a ton and got nothing accomplished...I can come home and work on something I can actually SEE my achievements and say "hey...I cared for this, and it is caring for me back by just being itself"! My friend...well she would simply be upset at herself for not making a client better to her very high impressions of help, and it would be a serious change in her personality!
Now, I am so not saying that 'givers' shouldn't be nurses..far from, but realize that it may be something to work on when you feel burned out, or not productive to your satisfaction. That is why I feel doing things outside of work and looking forward to them is very essential to a healthy happy nurse!
I too was a 'giver' and I hit emotional rock bottom within the 2nd year of being an RN...so many patients, and no time to be who I was with them and help in my own unique way..which was my intention. I took a hard look at my expectations and my personality...and said..."okay comprimise time...but with things I can change!" I am much happier since I realized this, and do things for myself that make a difference to me (and just ME!) like working with plants! Seems silly to focus on plants...but it calms me and I see a living thing thrive with my touch and care, where as at work...well it can be the opposite depending (I have a lot of hospice patients)...and it gives me personal strength to deal with the job and wish to continue giving!
Find out what drives you to be a nurse...find out what personal satisfaction you wish to gain...and remember them very well. Think of what type of personality trait you possess that makes you unique and combine all this information..that is the start to getting to know yourself well, and thinking about little 'personality' hurdles you may come across before they are there...you will be a much happier person, and hit those 'suprise' hurdles much better!
Specializes in midwifery, ophthalmics, general practice.
I took the online test and should be working in nephrology rather than general practice... yeh right!
personality for a nurse....... well as far as I can see, we come in all shapes and sizes! the only one constant seems to be the sense of humour... its black and truly wicked!!! and that seems to be the same the world over!! only another nurse would laugh at the things I laugh at!!
I'm taking a Trends in Nursing class and one of the modules has to do with 4 personality types: Driver; Analytical; Expressive; and Amiable. I think we're studying this so as to understand how to more effectively communicate and function with other health care workers. It's interesting stuff. You can't really change your personality but you can modify how you deal with other personality types so that you can work together more successfully. Hope this helps.
missmercy
437 Posts
A wise poster here once said if nurses don't define their own profession, everybody else will be happy to do it for them. I completely agree. :)
SO TRUE!!! Nursing covers sooooooo many areas and disciplines and cultures and..... and.... and.... if we all had the same personality-- it wouldn't work!
If you are passionate about seeing peoples needs met -- you ought to be a decent nurse -- whether at the bedside, educating, supervising, LTC, pediatrics, OR, ER...... HOW you make sure that happens may be a direct result of your personality type -- but I think the great nurses are the ones who do what they can to 1) take care of their patients, 2) take care of temselves and 3) take care of their profession. Don't ever let someone else determine what you are going to be "right" for -- if you really want to do something -- try it! If it doesn't fit... it doesn't fit -- try something else -- but whatever you try to do -- do it because you want to do it, because you are passionate about it and be your best!!!!