Personality Type and Nursing.

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In trying to better understand why I don't like any nursing job I've had, I started soul searching. Yesterday, i took a personality test (a real, paid-for type). It described me to a T! Basically, my personality is more introverted and imaginative. This is completely true. It also said that one of the least compatable occupations for me is nursing - go figure.

I really believe this is why I can't find my niche. I get into a job, its going ok and then it tends to go downhill quick. The only job I've loved is PDN but once I got a BSN and was still making LPN pay, I moved on. I've tried HH, med surg, and some teaching.

Has anyone else experienced this personality dilemma? I seem to always love half of my job and hate the other half (i.e. documentation, management, scheduling, hours). I just want to find where I fit and am the best I can be in that area. I also live in a rural area, so not all opportunities are easily available to me.

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My personality is D, D as in getting paid big dollars. I find nursing works well with type D.

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Take anything regarding personality types and the resulting perfect careers that go along with them with a grain of salt. If I was doing the job one of those personality career tests said was perfect for me, I'd be a funeral home director. No lie. As it was, I spent fourteen successful years as a teacher before moving on to nursing. And, while certain types/sorts of teaching is a recommended alternative for my 'type', those that put the lists together don't account for anything other than a romanticized view of those professions. All careers have good and bad points. All personalities can do just fine in whatever career they choose for themselves. Everything is what you decide to make of it.

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Specializes in Psych, Corrections, Med-Surg, Ambulatory.

We would all find our niche a lot faster if we didn't need rent and groceries. You liked PDN but the pay was terrible. That says nothing about your personality.

It's very hard to find a nursing "niche" because so many nursing jobs come with poor work conditions. If you could work in a place that was adequately staffed, management was supportive, you got your breaks, nonsense wasn't tolerated from patients and families, and you got decently paid, you wouldn't need a niche.

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Specializes in Psych (25 years), Medical (15 years).
my personality is more introverted and imaginative.

I can relate.

I really believe this is why I can't find my niche. I get into a job, its going ok and then it tends to go downhill quick.

Has anyone else experienced this personality dilemma?

In my 30's. I did a lot of job hopping. I was a flash in the pan. Came off good on first impression and then seem to sabotage the situation. As my Mom once said, "Dave gets bored so easily".

It took a lot of time, trials and errors, and self-examination, but I feel like I'm finally a grownup.

We sometimes have to kiss a lot of Warhols before we find our Rembrandt.

Good luck to you, MJPN2012!

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