Nursing school or ? ?

[rystle]

I've been thinking if nursing is right for me? I love to help people, but I'm really not a people person. I mean, I don't hate people but I'm an only child. I am quiet most of the time and some people take offense to that. At my first job (not related to health or nursing), people have told me I'm too quiet, I'm definitely an introvert. I will say simple things like "Hi" but I really don't know how to start up a conversation........ is like are you feeling okay enough? or do you have to be really social? I've been thinking about ultrasound or xray tech. I still don't know what I really want.

[dianah, ASN]

Moved to Pre-Nursing Student forum.

[strawberryluv, BSN, RN]

I'm not very sociable either and thats a problem because people usually regard me as passive and they stomp all over me just to make themselves feel better. I also never say no and do favors for my friends when they ask. It could be really hard not liking people or being that person that people can just vent out to or pick on because you're quiet. Yeah, there are people that will tell you you need to be a people person to be a nurse but I don't think thats true. You just need to learn how to be sensitive and warm with people. Tell them things gently and be patient. You don't necessarily have to have excellent communication skills but be able to communicate with your patient. You are not there to be your patient's friend just to advocate for them. Thats what gets me through this and makes me believe that I will not fail as a nurse just because I am an introvert.

[iPink, BSN, RN]

In nursing school, they will teach you how to talk to your patients. For example, you walk in the room and say "Hi, Mr/Ms. XYZ, my name is Glad, I'm a student nurse working with your primary nurse today, how are you feeling?" "Are you in any pain? From a scale of 1-10 rate your pain level." These are just a few things you will initally say to your patient and the beginning of the nurse-patient relationship. Some will smile and ask you about school. You will learn how to open up, so don't allow fear to cripple you from doing what you really want to do.

[thecareerchanger, BSN]

As long as you like helping and working with people, I don't think you need to be a conversationalist or anything. In my current field (I work in social service) I learned to talk to people and build a relationship with them, but I am naturally quiet. I am sure this is the same for nursing

[MsKayleigh]

Worry you not! Yes, they do teach you some of the basic things you do need to say, and often other conversations develop or don't develop depending on the type of person you are caring for.

I did theatre, so I don't really consider myself shy or quiet. BUT, my issue is that I'm very task-oriented and I struggle with having those "extra" conversations that really foster the connection to clients. Plus, being in school still, I don't feel I've gotten to the point where so many of the routines are second nature, to where I can comfortably be doing part of an assessment AND talking to my client at the same time.

The best advice I've gotten to help with that? One nurse told me, "Take 5 minutes and talk about something not related to medicine or why they are here. Then, they will feel like you care about them as a person and will feel connected to you, and you will feel connected to them". Solid, amazing advice--and it has worked for me so far!