What's your personality like?

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Specializes in Ambulatory Care, Case Manager.

How would you describe yourself? Sometimes I wonder if I went into the wrong profession due to my personality. I did not get into this profession for the money (as long as I can earn a decent living that's all that matters) or because of "job security". I'm trying to find my niche in nursing and realized that "because I like to help people" is not good enough reason to be in this profession. I remember in High School for Career Day, I was trying to debate whether to shadow a nurse or a police officer and I ended up with shadowing a nurse which to my disappointment, wasn't too exciting. I didn't wanted to become a police officer because I didn't care too much in carrying a gun, but I was still interested in Criminal Justice yet did not know exactly in what department. I consider myself as serious and can have a short temper; and for those who don't know me, perceive me as cold and unapproachable. As a matter of fact, I can win hands on in a "poker face" game. These are characteristics that I would like to change about myself because that gives the patients and staff a wrong impression about me. Currently I am in an ambulatory care setting and have wondered many times whether I should have gone into Correctional Nursing instead.

So, what's your personality like and do you think you are in the right specialty?

Black Jade :rolleyes:

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Specializes in Med/Surg, Ortho, ASC.

"have wondered many times whether I should have gone into Correctional Nursing instead."

If you have wondered this "many" times, maybe you should pursue it?

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Specializes in CTICU.

My mother used to say I went into ICU nursing because the patients are unconscious and can't answer back.

She wasn't far wrong... !

I can have a bad temper, but it takes a lot to peeve me. I mostly get frustrated by people who are lazy or do not do their work properly, particularly if that means pts get short-changed. Overall though, I work with a fantastic team, my boss is one of my best friends, and we really have a good time. I am a perfectionist and I do have to remind myself that others do not always have the same standards so that I am not perpetually annoyed. I am very detail-oriented and enjoy the hi-tech stuff. I do tend to get along well with pts and families.

I am definitely in the right specialty.

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Specializes in Ambulatory Care, Case Manager.
"have wondered many times whether I should have gone into Correctional Nursing instead."

If you have wondered this "many" times, maybe you should pursue it?

Maybe I should...

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Specializes in Ambulatory Care, Case Manager.
My mother used to say I went into ICU nursing because the patients are unconscious and can't answer back.

She wasn't far wrong... !

I can have a bad temper, but it takes a lot to peeve me. I mostly get frustrated by people who are lazy or do not do their work properly, particularly if that means pts get short-changed. Overall though, I work with a fantastic team, my boss is one of my best friends, and we really have a good time. I am a perfectionist and I do have to remind myself that others do not always have the same standards so that I am not perpetually annoyed. I am very detail-oriented and enjoy the hi-tech stuff. I do tend to get along well with pts and families.

I am definitely in the right specialty.

Same here. I am very detailed oriented and can be a perfectionist at times. I also get frustrated with people who are lazy and can get annoyed sometimes at certain patients...but hey, we are all human beings.

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Specializes in Tele, ICU, ED, Nurse Instructor,.

Black Jade you remind a lot of myself. I have people come up to me and say " I am unable to figure you out". To be honest everyone dont need to know like me family and friends. Some of them unable to figure me out. People try to get to know you. Some co workers do not need to know me they just need to tolerate me to point for the next 12 hours we are working together. The ones who try to know are the ones who are slackers. I know I am agressive. Agressive to take care of my patients. I am not there to make friends. I just sit back and observe my surroundings to figure people out and this will determine how my night is going to go.

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Specializes in Case mgmt., rehab, (CRRN), LTC & psych.

I sometimes think that my personality and temperament are not compatible with nursing, although I generally get along well with my patients and family members.

People tend to describe me as quiet. I'm detail-oriented, task-oriented, and usually prepare a "to do" list before the start of each shift. I am very introverted and do not enjoy passing the breeze with small talk. I prefer discussing topics that are academic, worldly, or intellectually stimulating to me. However, I will engage in small chatter if it makes the patient or visitor feel more at ease. I am very serious, occasionally uptight, lack a sense of humor, and I do not smile much because my smiles frequently come across as fake. I'll be the first person to admit that my interpersonal skills need plenty of polishing.

I am definitely not a charmer. My best friend, who is also a nurse, knows how to charm people by telling them what they want to hear, flattering them with phony compliments, telling them little fibs and lies that will make them feel good about themselves, and generally "playing the game" to be viewed favorably by others. However, I cannot bring myself to the point of kissing another person's butt just to get that person to think fondly of me.

I'm outwardly calm, thoughtful, mellow, and very non-confrontational. Confrontation disturbs me greatly. I prefer one-on-one interaction versus mingling in a large group of people. I also prefer night shifts due to having less people around.

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Specializes in chemical dependency detox/psych.

I think I'm in the right profession and specialty (Chemical dependency detox/psych.) I also have a good poker face, which I tend to use when patients are trying to shock me. I'm also rather silly and enjoy using humor to diffuse difficult situations. I've gotten many a hardened drunk with a correctional history that's totally smashed to laugh (and subsequently cooperate) by telling a somewhat off-color joke. I love to smile and joke around, and I give my coworkers shoulder rubs to help put them in a better mood. :p Patients and coworkers tend to describe me as always willing to help and go the extra mile. I'm detail-oriented, but not to the point that it gets in the way of the larger picture. I love to talk and get to know people, but I tend not to offer too many details about my own life. I do not like to mix my personal and work life. I fully subscribe to the principal that I'd rather laugh about the crap that goes on at work, than cry.

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OMF Ghillbert and Commuter, you sound just like me...

I'm working on classes to apply to nursing school in the spring. It's something I've thought of for a long time, and it excites me to be able to help people and to pursue a rewarding career. At the same time, I also am very introverted, serious, straight-faced, and don't enjoy to "shoot the breeze." Sometimes I have worried that this might make nursing incompatible with me. I sure hope not.

Now working in the ICU, sounds like a good idea. I have to check that out :)

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Specializes in LTC, med/surg, hospice.

I'm really not a people person or a big talker. I'm polite and respectful always. Pretty dull lol.

I enjoy my one on one interaction with the patients. Making small talk and whatnot with 3+ visitors/family members plus the patient..I can do without.

I'm usually seen as serious and about business but not difficult to worth with. I'm still a newbie but I'm often a go-to person for other staff.

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Specializes in Medical Surgical.

Black Jade my personality sounds a lot like yours. I have some how learned to turn the smile on between 7-7 but if you catch me after hours I may not look very approachable. I'm not hardly ever in a bad mood I just look like that. I actually enjoyed working at a prison so maybe you should try it.

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Specializes in Acute Care Cardiac, Education, Prof Practice.

Detail oriented, self-critical, good at telling short, moderately amusing stories about myself to get the water warmed up, sometimes considered cold and unapproachable by new people/people I don't converse with often.

I apparently have a "worried" face when my patients are going bad that I am working on settling down.

I get to work 30 minutes early to prep my papers, I love to precept new grads, I hate dealing with eratic/unpredictable patients. Give me someone in excrutiating pain and I can fix that, keep the sundowning grandmas attempting to exit the unit.

I think we are all a little OCD, cranky when busy and frustrated at patients who don't want help when we are doing our best for them and they won't reciprocate.

Tait

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