Specialty for introvert?

I am introvert as well, PACU and now research work well me. but everywhere you will have kind of interactions with others

I'm an introvert and have worked in the ER, Med Surg and hospice. I think hospice is the worst job for introverts, it's not that I don't care about people but it was just draining having to deal with other people's emotions. I now do telephone triage for a large teaching hospital and would highly recommend this for introverts. All your interaction is on the phone, you never come face to face with patients. It's the best job I have ever had! I do work in an office with 3 other nurses so that's about the worst part of it, of course you get rude people on the phone but in 3-4 min your done with them! Beats 12 hours of dealing with needy patients and family members!

You can work from home with the insurance industry. Research openings on the job boards.

Private duty nursing where the family member works full time and isn't constantly breathing down your neck.

Maybe try procedural areas eg: cath lab/EP lab/endoscopy. Or nuclear medicine/IR!

I am an introvert; have done psych, case management, and now clinic floating. In psych, I think a lot depends on the patient population and the size of the unit. WOrking in a 6 bed crisis unit wasnt too emotionally taxing; 26 bed locked unit w lots of behavioral and angry detoxing pts- not so much. Case management was a good fit. Clinic nursing depends on the setting, I find. In some offices the nurse has her own space/shared space away from others. In other offices they stick you in the phone room with all the people who answer the phones and they are constantly asking you questions or telling you there are pts here to see you. There's a large variety. I also liked outpatient psych; I was in a somewhat administrative role and had my own office, which was nice

I'm an introvert and have worked in the ER, Med Surg and hospice. I think hospice is the worst job for introverts, it's not that I don't care about people but it was just draining having to deal with other people's emotions.

Agree.

Education, as in college professor, might be hard if you don't like public speaking. Case management, clinic nursing, UR/insurance co stuff, PACU, research.

what about a wound care nurse.

I don't agree that changing yourself would be ideal. You are who you are, and don't let anyone make you think that you are "broken". I'm an introvert, and used to think the same way. If you haven't read the book Quiet- the Power of Introverts in a World That Wont Stop Talking by Susan Cain, it is a great read, and is very informative. I've worked ED, OR, and oncology. Oncology was tough for the same reasons people have mentioned about hospice. OR I didn't care for too much. Intubated patients are all well and good, but surgeons and other staff tend to drive me nuts. ED is my home- I've figured out how to make it work. As you said, patients are easy, co workers can be less so. Biggest problem I've found is that my wife (also an introvert) does not get as much "socialization" at work, so she is more likely to want to do things with people on her days off. I get all the people time I can handle at work, so I tend to want to be a hermit in my off time. Working nights is key for me. Too much staff/administration around during the day.

Forgive me in advance for not exactly answering the question you asked...

Being an introvert and lacking social skills or the assertiveness to stick up for yourself are not the same thing. Being an introvert generally means you process things internally and do not draw on other people for energy; it's not something you can really change. But it doesn't in itself imply that you lack any particular set of social skills. Feeling fine around patients but withering around strong personalities in your managers and coworkers sounds less like introversion (though I'm not saying youre not an introvert as well) and more like lacking a specific skill set.

I bring this up because many psychologists who offer therapy also specifically offer assertiveness training. Your insurance may even pay for it. And since assertiveness is a kind of skill set that you can actively develop with the right training, knowing how to get trained in it is better than just thinking its either an unchangeable part of who you are or else some kind of vague flaw you use willpower alone to overcome. Training works pretty well actually.

Then, job-wise, pick whatever field youre interested in.

I don't think there is a "right niche" for introverts..... Its about finding what works for you, there are so many different kinds of introverts

I find people energy draining, and yet I hate working in areas with limited patient contact (theatre, ICU etc... I like my people awake and talking), even though sometimes it is totally exhausting I love building relationships with patients and sharing their journey