Will I become a bad nurse? How should I change?

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(Sorry about the long post and bad grammer. Hopefully I will have time to edit once I get out of class :up:)

I'm not really a people's person and I enjoy the company of an animal more than I do that of a person. I am easily ticked off and I admit that I do have a bad temper to the point that if I'm angry or upset that I want the people around me to be upset as well (I don't why that is). So when I'm angry I purposely try to tick someone else off (especially my family where much of my anger is directed to for no reason at all).

And even at work (at a resturant), sometimes I try to keep my composer to my customer's but my face is an open book and someone can easily tell if I am angry and they become intimidated by it and maybe even think that I'm a ***** and a bad employee.

There are numerous times I have tried to control my temper but I never seem to be able to control it. And it doesn't matter who the person is or what their age is, I still direct my anger at people (not to be abusive at all).

There is also times that I get angry to the point that I give myself a headache. One of my biggest pest peeves is people who moves like they don't have someone to be or does a task too slow and that pisses me of because I'm very impatient. And I've notice that i am succeptible to a lot of road rage when people drive to slow so I speed. My family tells me that I'm going to be a bad nurse because it and I'm trying my hardest to change my thought process but it never seems to go away.

I have been told that I have Type A personality and I am very afraid that I won't be a capable nurse because I am really a compassionate person. I love animals and I help the homeless. Also I'm the type of person who wants everyone to be happy when I'm happy, so I go out of my way to make them happy.

This is not a trolling post, and I'm actually quite serious and wanted to get this off my chest and admit to my faults because I always deny it to everyone else. Does any nurses have type A personalities as well and how do you control your frustrations? My mother acts just like me and I believe that I got it from her.

Any opionins or a good telling is welcomed. Thank you.

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If I was your manager and you acted the way you described, I would get rid of your. Your should consider OR, your patients are sedated and no families to deal with. You will still have to deal with co workers but 1 outta 3 aggravating factors may be doable for you.

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Actually that is exactly what I wanted, a sedated patient haha. And ever since my manager quit 4 months ago we haven't had one since. But I have never yelled at my customers or anything and even when I'm upset I really do try to keep my composure.

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Specializes in Emergency & Trauma/Adult ICU.

First, a general comment. Life is too short to go through it being pissed off much of the time. You only have a finite amount of energy - if it's all negative, this narrows and limits your perspective tremendously. You might consider how this impacts your life, regardless of your career choice.

Secondly, what draws you to nursing? You have enough self-awareness to recognize that interpersonal skills and managing stress are not currently strengths of yours, and yet you intend to pursue a high-stress field that requires both emotional maturity and above-average people skills. Seems like there is a disconnect there ...

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Well nursing became a calling to me about a year and a half ago. And my anger wasn't this bad until this year which I think occurred from too much stress. I have alway been a Type A Personality but it hasn't showed much until now. I want to be a capable nurse so what I do is when people do tick me off I just ignore them and try not to think about it so it won't anger me. This helps when I'm around strangers but not around my family members where my anger i's too comfortable.

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OP, what you're describing is not a type A personality. It is someone who is in need of Anger Management. My suggestion would be to get some professional help for your anger issues before pursuing any career in which you will need to work with people on a regular basis.

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Specializes in Med/Surg, Ortho, ASC.

"There is also times that I get angry to the point that I give myself a headache. One of my biggest pest peeves is people who moves like they don't have someone to be or does a task too slow and that pisses me of because I'm very impatient. And I've notice that i am succeptible to a lot of road rage when people drive to slow so I speed. My family tells me that I'm going to be a bad nurse because it and I'm trying my hardest to change my thought process but it never seems to go away. "

You need to help yourself before you can even begin to help others. Type A does not describe the above feelings & behaviors. Talk to your doctor for some recommendations and referrals.

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Specializes in IMCU, Oncology.

Without getting help for anger management, I think nursing would be a very difficult profession for you to maintain. You have to deal with people constantly and unhappy people who are not at their best. Being a nurse requires a tremendous amount of patience! Patients are slow, for a very important reason...they are sick, elderly, had surgery, on pain meds, etc.

For your sake ad your family, please seek anger management or some sort of counseling. What you describe sounds to be a very unhealthy situation and I hope you will seek help!

Most people do not have the opportunity to start in the OR, and I think you would have an issue working with surgeons and staff too.

This does't mean you cannot become a nurse, because if it is important enough to you then you will get help and make the changes needed to pursue your calling. Perhaps the calling was a notice to make changes!

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I don't mean this to sound offensive at all and I am being completely sincere. Have you ever seen a therapist or a doctor about this? It seems like it could be a mental health issue. I would never discourage anyone from nursing but the other posters are right, you need to get help before investing all the money, time, and energy into nursing. Ignoring people when you're mad is only a temporary fix, until the anger bottles up, and becomes overwhelming.

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Specializes in ICU, LTACH, Internal Medicine.

the OP and His Majesty Sir Surgeon in the OR will make perfect explosive combination.

OP, nursing can be your "calling" or not, but by continuing to do what you are doing you destroy your own life as well as the others'. It is good that you acknowledge your weaknesses, but you are working in the field full of very vulnerable folks all around, patients and colleagues alike. A bit above your there was a topic about "sensitive nurses" - please read it and think how your sensitive colleagues may feel even when you share breakroom.

Your personality is not type A, and not something "you got from your mom". It is lack of coping skills and anger management skills, as well as emotional immaturity which are all screaming out for help. As to your career, you either need to leave nursing and start doing something you enjoy more, maybe in veterinary field, or find a very pointed niche where you'll be on your own most of the time, with your own pace and your own tasks. PICC RN is one thing which comes to my mind. And seek high-quality, long-term professional help, please

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You're not going to get the chance to become a bad nurse. If your nursing instructors don't handle your anger.. your first manager will.

Strangers on an internet forum have no idea how you could change. That would be up to you.

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I don't mean this to sound offensive at all and I am being completely sincere. Have you ever seen a therapist or a doctor about this? It seems like it could be a mental health issue. I would never discourage anyone from nursing but the other posters are right, you need to get help before investing all the money, time, and energy into nursing. Ignoring people when you're mad is only a temporary fix, until the anger bottles up, and becomes overwhelming.

I never seen a therapist about it and after posters posted most about this, I am now considering that I may have a problem that is not normal. Because being completely honest I thought this was normal and some nurses may be going through the same thing...

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