Quite Asian guy thinking of a degree in nursing

Rednights · Mar 1, 2010

Quiet nature? You'll be talking constantly as a nurse to physicians, other nurses, your patients and their family members ... you are a hub of information. You can't just sit there and stare at them LOL. Of course you don't need to make simple conversation to your coworkers, they'll all be busy doing their own thing I dunno .. maybe I'm mistaking your quietness as shyness ... which won't fly at all. Need more details to what exactly your "problem" is.

ItsTheDude · Mar 1, 2010

it doesn't really matter, there are asian nurses and quite nurses and there are quite asain nurses, you won't be the only one.

caliotter3 · Mar 1, 2010

Ditto what was previously said. You would not be the only quiet Asian nurse, but you better be able to stand up for yourself when necessary. Nursing is not a field where you want to be pushed around by your coworkers, the patients, the doctors, and everyone else. It could cost your job and your license in certain situations.

chith · Mar 1, 2010

Thx for your replies folks. Rednights I know what nursing is and that one cannot sit and stare at people......lol.....however it helps to know that one need not talk constantly with his colleagues.....which to me is boring at times. However I want to ask all experienced folks how is life in the ER or ICU ...two areas where I would like to work ...thx again for any or all input!

caliotter3 · Mar 1, 2010

You should start another thread with ER or ICU in the title if you want input about these two areas. You can also check out many of the threads in the specialty forums.

koi310 · Mar 4, 2010

I don't want to read too much into your 2 posts, but you might want to elaborate on what constitutes 'constant talking' and why you think it's 'boring', because bedside nursing is fundamentally a 'people-oriented' job requiring solid social skills.

You will talking to people constantly--coworkers, management, patients/residents, family members, social workers, EMTs, techs, aides, pharmacists, etc. In fact, I can't even think of a time a nurse *isn't talking* to someone. Your downtime will be intermittent at best and will probably be interrupted by someone.

Secondly, social skills are required to be successful at nursing. A nurse has to be personable and charismatic enough to persuade, motivate and manage people, especially people who are irate, afraid, stressed, angry, confused, or overbearing/dictatorial. Most of the time, you will be the person who has to set limits, but in a way that minimizes an antagonistic response, or motivate/convince a patient to comply with treatment, or stand up to/correct an MD.

If you have a low upper threshold for social interaction, I can almost guarantee you that you will probably burn out soon after nursing school. I've seen that happen with new nurses who were nice, but who couldn't deal with the constant social and emotional demands, and for quite a few it negatively affected their job performance.

50caliber · Mar 15, 2010

You better have "social skills" and be able to relate to a broad range of people: MD, NP, RT, techs, clerks, sick children, annoying pt. family members, and on and on and on. If you are into the ER environment, this is even more critical. Being timid/reserved is not a good trait to have working in this stressful type of an environment.

Andrew1403, ASN, BSN, RN · Mar 20, 2010

I think it would be wise to first see what you are getting yourself into...take a CNA/NAR course and get a job as a nursing assistant...

this will open your eyes to the nursing field....it will show you the basics of nursing....i dont think it would be wise to just pick this career because you believe the job stability is good...there is alot more in being a nurse than thinking about job stability....it is hard, emotionally draining, stressful work, but rewarding at the end of the day knowing you helped someone become healthier

also...their is a freeze in medical hiring right now too...

EDIT: Prerequisite for many nursing programs is CNA/NAR liscensure and current experience/ work in the field...

Emergency RN · Mar 23, 2010

Hey folks,
I am an Asian, 32 year old guy thinking of getting a bsn degree. I am tired of job insecurity in other areas. I want a career with many job opportunities in the long term (though the current economy is bad) and a career with many options. Nursing seems to the one - projected high demand in coming years and all that.
Though being a guy I am kind of hesitant to enter this female dominated profession. I am kind of quite but can get the job done. Plus I am an Asian.....at times I think I do not talk that much as typical North American men. At times I can be reserved. Is this is a negative trait? Will I be accepted as a colleague at work? Or will I become the object of ridicule and hatred because of my skin color and quite nature?
I am looking for honest replies.

I doubt you'd be an object of ridicule for your skin color and nature; but I'd work on that spelling (ie Quiet vs Quite). :idea:

That said, being both a guy AND Asian and having spent 25 years in this business, I would say that none of the above was ever the source of any problem for me within the professional arena. As my moniker says, I work in the ED. I also spent a few years in the military doing law enforcement too, so I'm probably not quiet or reserved if that matters. However, being quiet should never be used as an excuse to hold one's self back. Further, being a guy in a female dominated profession can have it's perks too, if you get my drift :smokin:

My take? Go for it. I did and it was one of the best career decisions I'd ever made. :up:

Ace587RN, RN · Mar 30, 2010

I'm Asian and i work in a white dominated environment. I get along with them though, but im certainly not reserved to myself. I have no problem whatsoever