What's your personality like?

[Black Jade]

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

[PostOpPrincess, BSN, RN]

I am succinct, and have low tolerance for nonsense. I am still learning to be patient with people who do not think like me, but that's been a work in progress since I was a child. I question anything and everything that doesn't make sense, and I am 100% a patient advocate.

I acknowledge I am an alpha female, and I am very confident in myself personally and professionally. I like who I am, but am humble enough to know that I cannot fix the world.

I love the littlest patients the most because they are the most vulnerable. My biggest wish is that people learn to cope because life is hard, but can be the most wonderful experience should you look at things in a more positive tone.

[ShannonRN2010, BSN, RN]

I am a people person. I like to talk to people, learn alittle about my patients, I can be charming if I want to. I enjoy making lists and tend to be task oriented at work. I am a perfectionist at work, I won't stop until I get my stuff done and I expect my co-workers to be the same. Very detailed oriented. To do lists out the wazoo!

I am more than willing to jump in and help out my fellow nurses.

I have a very dry, scarcastic humor.

If I don't like someone...I don't go out of my way to talk to them.

[leslie :-D]

I am succinct, and have low tolerance for nonsense. I am still learning to be patient with people who do not think like me, but that's been a work in progress since I was a child. I question anything and everything that doesn't make sense, and I am 100% a patient advocate.

I acknowledge I am an alpha female, and I am very confident in myself personally and professionally. I like who I am, but am humble enough to know that I cannot fix the world.

I love the littlest patients the most because they are the most vulnerable. My biggest wish is that people learn to cope because life is hard, but can be the most wonderful experience should you look at things in a more positive tone.

i can relate to your post, jo...

very no-nonsense, impatient, self-assured, pt advocate (with a mighty roar).

but, am also very much a loner and avoid small talk.

leslie

[PostOpPrincess, BSN, RN]

i can relate to your post, jo...

very no-nonsense, impatient, self-assured, pt advocate (with a mighty roar).

but, am also very much a loner and avoid small talk.

leslie

I had a feeling you and I had a lot in common...much kudos to you, you impress me a great deal....

[Indy, LPN, LVN]

I'm a myers-briggs type INFJ. Meaning, introverted, intuitive, feeling, judging. I don't remember much of the rest of their garbledygook explanation. I love to laugh when it's time (and sometimes when it's really not time), and I don't mind a lot of work, but I do like a balanced shift versus running for 12 hours straight. Control issues are my downfall when I meet rowdy people because I'm a little quick with the restraints versus being creative. One or more of my bosses would say that is an understatement!

I like teaching and it's always fun to learn new things, but I can't abide a knowitall and certainly can't deal with BS too much. I will tell you bad news when you need to hear it with a straight face, including you have a booger hanging out your nose or green crap on your teeth or your hair color is a mistake. I wish more people would tell me when I have green stuff on my teeth, but they don't. I have the confidence that comes from overcoming quite a bit of adversity and don't hesitate to stick up for the underdog. I carry a stick in my bag (to reach things, I'm short) and don't much care that people actually think I will do violence with it, even though I have never been in a fight in my life. I'm gentle with folks 99% of the time.

I worry about what's going to happen, watch trends, and have very few patients code because I work so hard not to have those things happen. I don't lie to dying people, but I sometimes am tricky with not-so-dying people in order to get 'em to go to sleep and stop talking for a few hours. Every so often I get completely attached to patients and can't let them go for a while. I have discovered this year that going to a funeral once in a while isn't a bad thing.

[metal_m0nk, BSN, RN]

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.

I am a lot like you described with the only real exception being that I don't generally shy away from confrontation. Though I don't seek out confrontation, I am perfectly comfortable with facing an issue head on and usually try to shut it down as quickly and efficiently as possible.

I do have a sense of humor, but it sometimes takes an abstract thinker to "get" it.

[metal_m0nk, BSN, RN]

i can relate to your post, jo...

very no-nonsense, impatient, self-assured, pt advocate (with a mighty roar).

but, am also very much a loner and avoid small talk.

leslie

I once overheard an ex manager of mine telling a contractor: "She walks softly, but she carries a big stick," in reference to me.

[TheCommuter, BSN, RN]

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.

I should also mention that others have difficulty trying to "read me" or figure out how I am feeling or what I am thinking, because I have a restricted affect with a limited range of facial expressions. You can look at some people and automatically know what's on their minds. However, I have a classic poker face.

I don't wear my heart on my sleeve. People who have never met me sometimes conclude that I am cold, so I do not always formulate good first impressions. However, people also tend to appreciate my honesty and candor. Some of my coworkers have the gift of gab and know how to "talk the talk" with little white lies and half-truths, but my responses are more candid.

I have learned that people want the truth, but cannot handle the truth.

[leslie :-D]

Some of my coworkers have the gift of gab and know how to "talk the talk" with little white lies and half-truths, but my responses are more candid.

I have learned that people want the truth, but cannot handle the truth.

i had to chuckle at your last statement, so very true.

however, much of our honesty and how it is received, is r/t delivery.

if we are abrasive, blunt and insensitive, it'll be received unfavorably.

if we choose to be diplomatic, it'll likely be received much better.

finally, i do know of those who have the gift of gab, as well.

and while i'm not opposed to "little white lies and half-truths", i just don't have the inclination to do so.

i am not a gabby person but if someone wants an honest answer from me, i will try to answer in a sensitive way.

leslie

[PostOpPrincess, BSN, RN]

i had to chuckle at your last statement, so very true.

however, much of our honesty and how it is received, is r/t delivery.

if we are abrasive, blunt and insensitive, it'll be received unfavorably.

if we choose to be diplomatic, it'll likely be received much better.

finally, i do know of those who have the gift of gab, as well.

and while i'm not opposed to "little white lies and half-truths", i just don't have the inclination to do so.

i am not a gabby person but if someone wants an honest answer from me, i will try to answer in a sensitive way.

leslie

I try to do that, unfortunately the end result is still the truth--and often times, the truth hurts.

[dudette10, MSN, RN]

Let's see. I asked a third party (my husband) how he would describe me to a stranger. This is what he came up with...

quirky, spirited, determined, emotional, clear-thinking

Then, I asked him, what's the flip side? (Cuz he loves me and stuff, so I MUST know the flipside...)

slightly weird, dogged, predictably unpredictable, clear-thinking

Thank goodness there is no flipside to at least one of those things!

I have no idea what specialty my personality would fit. I suppose I'll go into what I like and take it from there...

[TDCHIM]

I would make the world's worst nurse. So everyone in the U.S. should be very thankful I'm going into paper-pushing and health care data analysis for a living. Nurses have earned my undying respect for being able to handle all the bull thrown at them every day, because I simply couldn't do it. Instead, I would spend my day fantasizing about harshly educating the ignorant and chastising the stupid with one of my crutches.

Let's see...I have a quick temper; in fact, the only good thing I can say about it is that I cool off as quickly as I fire up if I'm left alone for a few minutes. However, I do dislike confronting others when I'm angry, unless I've completely lost my temper. I try hard to be friendly and tactful, but I'm not always completely successful. I don't read people I've just met terribly well, nor am I the most perceptive person you'll ever meet. I have a good but very skewed sense of humor, which also doesn't help me connect immediately with a broad spectrum of people (but does help a great deal with "kindred spirits," as Anne Shirley would say). I'm intelligent and I respect that characteristic above almost anything else in another person. I'm honest and I apologize for my mistakes, even when I feel like I'm going to grind my teeth to nubs just to spit out the words. I'm a perfectionist, a control freak, and while I take direction well from those I respect, I hate being told what to do by fools (which can make life in the average workplace a bit interesting). I am very detail-oriented; however, I see not only the immediate details, but those for the various possibilities several moves ahead in the game. I crave information, and it drives me crazy when I can't find it or people withhold it. I'm also a complete klutz.

Basically, I'm a geek with a lousy temper and a low tolerance for stupidity. Therefore, I'm well-suited to life as a health care analyst, researcher, or policy designer. As a nurse, I'd be an utter disaster.