Nursing not for me? Extreme introvert

[an2rn, ASN, BSN, RN]

I'm a new grad, and a few months ago I started working in dialysis. During my college career, I contemplated switching degrees to health science or computer science, but I stuck with nursing because I liked studying medical content, I knew I would get a job, I already spent lots of money for years of college, and I thought nursing was a good experience for me to grow as a person. Now that I actually graduated and I'm not just studying books and taking tests, it's become more obvious to me that I just don't fit into this type of job. I knew I didn't like bedside nursing, but outpatient in-center dialysis also doesn't appeal to me.

When I was in nursing school, I thought Nursing Informatics was a good route for me to take. However, after researching and reading posts about it on this website, NI seems like a route that requires experience as a bedside nurse, working with administration/business/EHR, etc., more so than just a Master's degree. I've also heard of NI graduates who aren't utilizing their degree and just working on the floor.

I don't know what to do. I'm super introverted. I don't like small talk. I'm a good listener, but I'm not naturally a talker. I don't like that I'm at work for 13 hours straight (even though I'm still in training - I might end up doing about 14 hours when I'm on my own). My "dream job" would be shorter shifts, less people-interaction, and less acuity. I'm detail-oriented, and I learn and work better when I'm not super stressed. (In college, I worked with college enrollment and did a lot of computer data-entry office work).

I know that I'm new in the nursing career, but I don't want to dread going to work all the time. I know there are behind-the-scenes nursing jobs, but majority of them require years of experience as a bedside nurse, which I don't want to do. 

Should I just go back to school for a completely different degree? Are there graduate school degrees I could consider that utilize my nursing degree? Thanks for your input. ?

[RatherBHiking, BSN, RN]

There are lots of nurses who are introverts that make their career work, myself included. I used to have such anxiety at the beginning of every shift having to meet all these new patients every day. I worked one med-surg floor I hated and one I really liked. A lot depends on the culture of the unit.

My favorite jobs as an introverted nurse was the nursery and post partum. The babies don't carry on conversations and the moms need lots of teaching so less time for chit chat. You could also consider post op as most patients are asleep and even pre-op they won't be there super long. I've done school nursing the longest as the schedule is great, the acuity pretty low, one or two kids at a time, you get to know them and their family's well, etc. Kids can be exhausting and most aren't into small talk and the ones that are you can just say you need to get back to class. LOL!! You do need experience and a BSN but most places will let you sub without either because they are desperate. 

Night shift you'd have less people interaction as they are asleep part of the night. If you think shorter shifts more often are better well not necessarily. I come home from work 5 days a week exhausted and peopled out and need to recharge. When I worked 12's (that yes turn into 14) at least I had more days off a week I didn't have to interact with the general public. You could try ICU eventually as most of them are sedated. There's also case management or telehealth once you put in a year or two. 

Most nursing jobs you have to interact with people but I could see in dialysis you're seeing a lot of the same patients each week that spend a lot of time with you close by and probably enjoy just chatting away with you. I'd suggest start looking for jobs in a different area. Also if you continue with your degree you could probably head towards a nurse researcher, nurse educator, etc. If you think you could handle night shift try that but either way try to find a different area. I've had jobs in 7 different areas and there were a few I hated. When you find yourself in a place you dread going to work, it's time to try somewhere new. 

With more life and work experience it gets easier. It really does. 

[lilyann4356]

I wouldn't start making plans to leave nursing yet. I am an introvert too and I'm OK at the bedside. I was initially really worried about it, but it hasn't been as big of a problem as I thought. I'm in the ICU and it's definitely not the lower acuity you're looking for, but I only have 2 patients I have to get to know during a shift, and most of the time they are too sick to talk.

There are lots of bedside nursing jobs where you don't have to interact as much with people. Unfortunately, dialysis seems like it would be very small talk heavy.  The above poster has some good suggestions about where to try. A procedure area like pre-op where you just take patients for short periods of time could be good too. Good hours and seems like it would be lower stress.

Also, don't put it on yourself to make friends with all your patients. Be friendly and professional, but you don't always have to be chatting while you're taking care of them. I introduce myself at the beginning of the shift and maybe ask a few questions to be friendly, but after that, I often will just go into their room and do what I need to do and leave without really having a real conversation at all. Often patients don't really want to talk either. 

[springlover13]

I'm the same way as you. I was actually considering doing dialysis bc the acuity is lower than whats in the hospital and its procedural so youre doing the same thing over and over. 

You should look into campus nursing, like work for a college. Id imagine the hours are shorter, summers off, and I would assume theres more of a focus on checking students' vaccine paperwork more than anything else. From what youve written I think that would really fit you. You should talk to some of the people at your old college enrollment job for insight. It might even be easier to get a job in that given coronavirus. I agree with the previous poster, you should also consider school nursing. It's something im looking into as well but I want to get more experience in general. 

If you do want to stay in dialysis, I recently attended a virtual Davita hiring event and they have opportunities for more administrative work and even research I think? One option they mentioned was case management. If you can manage staying for a year or two; you could probably get into that. Acute dialysis has less pt interaction but hours can be long/ acuity is higher.

I've also seen private duty nursing/home health recommended to people who are on the more anxious side. The patients are relatively stable so maybe also look into that? I do feel for you :(. Nursing is a second degree for me and I suffer from mental health issues. It's already a hard profession as it is. It's even harder to adapt to it as an anxious introvert and you don't really realize until youre in the thick of it. But what helps me is to remember that there are millions of nurses in the US alone, all with varying levels of extroversion. So, if all those nurses can do it so can we. Good luck w everything.