Too quiet to be a nurse?

[haileyjewell]

Today was the worst day I've had so far in nursing school. I admit that I'm not a very outgoing person, but I'm great with my patient's. I'm able to communicate with my patient's and the nursing staff at clinicals without a problem. However, today my instructor had a conversation with me and asked me "do you even have any friends"? I told her that no I haven't made any close friends but I do talk to different people in my class. She then told me that I am very strange and that makes her question herself about me. That it was weird and I seem like a very cold person. I couldn't really talk after this. I was very upset because I've never thought of myself as a bad person. She proceeded to tell me I need to break down my wall but she's not my psychiatrist. I feel so discouraged and I'm beginning to think maybe I don't have what it takes to be a nurse because I'm not very sociable with my class mates. I'm in my first semester. I just prefer to keep to myself. Does this make me a bad person?

[MedChica]

What a weird discussion. Does she harass you often? If so, you really don't have to suck her insults down, you know? Stand up for yourself.

Well, insults aside, did she say anything that might be of use to you? Do you feel like maybe you should speak up more often? How are your interactions with your pt's? Since you're in clinicals, maybe it would help to ask your A/Ox3's how they feel about you.

Yes, you can be quiet or shy or introverted and still be a nurse.

[nurseprnRN, BSN, RN]

There's an identical thread going on here, and I posted this there too:

Susan Cain: The power of introverts | Talk Video | TED.com