Nursing and Personality

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What's your personality (any: MBTI, Big 5, StrengthsFinder) and how do you see your personality interfacing with nurse culture some day? For MBTI I would be an ENFP. Big 5, top characteristic is Openness. StrengthsFinder, top two traits are Adaptability and Ideation.

On the plus side, I'm very adaptable and extremely resourceful as well as enthusiastic about research leading to new practices. In every new situation, my head starts filling up with ideas. A possible negative could be making a lot of suggestions for improvement can become annoying to coworkers and management, although I would never have the audacity to make suggestions as a new nurse, FYI. I do realize you have to learn before you earn (respect). But yeah, I do notice sometimes people get that "oh, boy, here she comes" look on their face when I'm walking towards them with that "I have an idea!!" look on my face. So I think my main personality characteristic can be both a positive and a negative in practice some day. Since I am an F, though (in the Jungian sense), I do tend to be very receptive to people's feelings and value harmony even in conflict, so that can also be helpful. I hope.

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I think ENFPs are bountiful, and often good nurses.

INTP. I was called Nurse House in school.

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I think ENFPs are bountiful, and often good nurses.

INTP. I was called Nurse House in school.

I adore INTPs. They are my favorite people to talk to! I can definitely see an INTP being drawn to diagnostic type interests because they tend to be natural code breakers.

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It's funny because I prefer order over harmony.

ENFPs succeed because they connect and anticipate how others need to connect, IMHO. They are your best friends as an INTP, because at the end of my shift, I am frequently emotionally bankrupt. I'll do three treatments to get away from a histrionic wailer.

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It's funny because I prefer order over harmony.

Yeah, but keep in mind ENFPs are not dominant feelers. We don't necessarily prefer harmony at the expense of order. More like we prefer to get to the truth in a harmonious fashion. A dominant feeler might be a little different in that order/truth/accuracy can be sacrificed for the sake of harmony, and that might be grating, particularly on an INTP, at least in my experience.

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Specializes in NICU, RNC.

ISFJ here. It's actually recommended that my "type" go into nursing! It's been a great fit so far.

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ISFJ here. It's actually recommended that my "type" go into nursing,

I would definitely agree with that. I would venture to say SFJ types are probably the most naturally suited to nursing of all the types. ISFJs are generally kind and patient to a fault. My father was an ISFJ and was just the gentlest soul I ever knew. My older sister is an ESFJ and though she's not a nurse, she certainly should have been! She's so good at knowing what everyone needs, and outspoken enough to see that it gets done.

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INTJ here. I like solitude, order, and routine, so floor nursing is not the best fit for me :sorry:

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INTJ all the way here. I have my own business and work for myself. Works out better-- I am expected to be an expert when hired, so I don't have to grate on people's nerves all the time who don't get it, and they don't have to bother me.

INTJ Introverted iNtuitive Thinking Judging

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INTJ here. I like solitude, order, and routine, so floor nursing is not the best fit for me :sorry:

INTJ all the way here. I have my own business and work for myself. Works out better-- I am expected to be an expert when hired, so I don't have to grate on people's nerves all the time who don't get it, and they don't have to bother me.

INTJ Introverted iNtuitive Thinking Judging

I have to say, though, of all the types, INTJs will surprise you the most. I highly value their friendship because if they are friends with you, it's because they highly value your friendship as well and are very straightforward about that. It's hard to equal the compliment of the admiration of an INTJ! In my experience, they also find incivility for its own sake distasteful, which I appreciate.

Just as an aside speaking of INTJ experts, I work with them all the time (I'm currently in the legal field, but switching to nursing.) When it's time for an expert deposition, I try to figure out if they are an INTJ and I'm so glad when they are because then I know that they are not going to drag out my day by rambling on and on about a bunch of irrelevant albeit interesting material. The attorney asks the question, the INTJ answers it simply and efficiently, and the whole fiasco is over not a minute longer than it needed to be. If I can tell that the expert witness is an INTP (sorry INTPs), I'm in for a painfully long day :p

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Specializes in CCU, CVICU, CVRU, Cardiac Cath Lab, RRT.

INTJ. I struggle with talking all day to coworkers and patients (ICU and OR are the only places that I don't have to talk every minute of the shift). On the other hand, I am always planning for the worst case scenario and privately I problem solve all shift long (then go home and research evidence based practice articles and mule over theories). I dislike doing the same thing over and over every day. Really critically ill patients present me with a constant challenge and because every patient is unique in their equilibrium set point and coping mechanisms, I have to adapt everything I know/do and continue to learn every day. I also enjoy going off of my gut instinct and then analyzing why I had the suspicion in the first place.

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Specializes in Case mgmt., rehab, (CRRN), LTC & psych.

INTP...I am task-oriented and do not place a terribly high value on forming deep connections with patients, families and colleagues. On occasion I have been described as unfriendly and standoffish.

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