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

[blueus]

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

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.

[WheresMyPen]

This is borderline trolling, if you weren't so darn receptive i'd say this was a epic troll. You seem to answer your own question in your post so why even submit the thread?

thats really inneccesary. OP when I said most people here are honest and helpful I did not mean ALL.

OP you are doing the right thing by asking these questions and wanting answers before entering nursing.

[Emergent, RN]

I'll give you my honest opinion here. I think you should change career goals. There are other vocations that don't involve people skills. Accounting comes to mind. Computer programing, landscaper, carpentry, are others.

Nursing is a service job. We can't be mean or surly. You can take an anger management class, but it's very hard to change ones basic temperament. This will be a lifelong difficulty for you to manage what will be a chronic problem and challenge.

I see a rocky road ahead of you in any job requiring interaction with the public. They are an aggravating bunch even for those of us without this problem.

[WheresMyPen]

A composer is one who writes music, generally at a professional level. Composure is a sense of repose, calmness; especially of mind, bearing or appearance. Words matter.

"Words matter" c'mon now. So does attitude and I find yours to be mocking a person who came here for legit help and has been very receptive to the responses.

[chivon101]

What about being a Veterinarian or a tech at the vet office, I hear they pay well. I'm being very serious, especially if you like animals.

[TriciaJ, RN]

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...

If they're going through the same thing, then their lives aren't working. You really do need professional help. Not just to be a nurse; your whole life will benefit.

[blueus]

This is borderline trolling, if you weren't so darn receptive i'd say this was a epic troll. You seem to answer your own question in your post so why even submit the thread?

I intially submitted the thread to see if I could get advice from people who were experiencing what I was experiencing. And I know that most post like this are mostly seen as trolling but I wanted serious advice because my sisuation is now becoming a daily struggle for me that I want more than anything to fix.

[blueus]

What about being a Veterinarian or a tech at the vet office, I hear they pay well. I'm being very serious, especially if you like animals.

Animals are my life but seeing them hurt and in pain will be tortuous for me. I like to pretend that the real world doesn't exist and that all animals are being treated kindly and are not hurting.

[blueus]

To all posters:

I took some people's advice at work tonight and when it was time for my break and I was starving but a lot of customers wanted my help I did not get angry like I usually would. I found that just smiling and thinking positive things of one day becoming a great nurse helps to counter my anger. And it made me feel really good about myself.

[WheresMyPen]

I'm so glad you were able to apply our input and overcAme the struggles of your night! Keep at it! You may find that some nights will be harder than others, but don't give up! I like what another poster said, that you're not just doing this for nursing, but to improve your life overall! Just keep reminding yourself that you are worth it to keep trying to make changes for the better. Whatever career you end up going into, you'll be happier to have more control over your struggles. Don't hesitate to ask for help when you need it.

[BuckyBadgerRN, ASN, RN]

I'm not sure what to think at this point. You don't like to see ANIMALS being treated unkindly, yet you admit when you're angry, you want others to be angry as well. I'm coming to the conclusion that you need serious help and truly need to rethink your "calling". (I am not a believer in all "callings", to be fair)

Animals are my life but seeing them hurt and in pain will be tortuous for me. I like to pretend that the real world doesn't exist and that all animals are being treated kindly and are not hurting.

[run.for.the.roses]

I would start with please don't take offense to this, but I'll save it because what I am about to say is offensive...You are not a "type A personality", what you may possibly be is an a**hole. The only reason that I am suggesting this is because I was once an A$$hole myself. I lacked coping skills, had serious anger management issues, and had A LOT of growing up to do! Your pet peeve is when people don't do things fast enough??? You have road rage??? You make those who know and care about you the most miserable because you are angry??? NOW, you've made it through step 1, you recognize that this is a problem. However, I see a lot of justification, but no real desire to change. Do you want to change? Do you realize that you are the one who has the problem, and not the person not completing the task fast enough? While you realize that this is a problem, if you don't think that it needs to change, then you haven't realized that there is a problem. I have always been empathetic, will help anyone if I can, and put other's needs ahead of my own. What I had to really work on was how I put myself out there. I had to teach myself to smile more, to slow down, and to bite my tongue. Have you heard the story of the boy whose dad made him put a nail in the fence every time he lost his temper? I'll find it and share the picture. Put yourself in the shoes of other's, "why" do people do what they do? How do they feel when you lash out at them? How would you feel if someone you cared for said they were done with you? You can't take back the things you said, and definitely can't take back the way you made them feel. Everyone is fighting something. YOU can only control YOU. No one can "make" you angry, you make you angry. Make sense?

[blueus]

I'm not sure what to think at this point. You don't like to see ANIMALS being treated unkindly, yet you admit when you're angry, you want others to be angry as well. I'm coming to the conclusion that you need serious help and truly need to rethink your "calling". (I am not a believer in all "callings", to be fair)

Yes, the the weird thing about me is that I was never able to direct my feelings on my pets.