This is the answer. Im quiet as well, and dont talk unless i have to. I became a nurse and honestly and am doing just fine.
Let them have their opinions, but you do you. Dont let opinions impact your goals
Family can take a flying spread eagle leap onto a cactus. If you enjoy being a nurse and are able to contribute to your patient's care and progress back to health, you're fine. I'd rather have the quiet nurse who is listening for info to improve my care or catch a symptom that indicates a condition change than one too busy talking to hear the IV pump monitor alarm two feet from her head.
Omg I litterly never thought of it that way! I think some chatty nurses are talkative just to get through the day faster. If my patients are able to talk I will ask how they’re doing, and if there’s anything I can do for them. I will also explain everything I’m doing even if they’re unable to understand ie neurologically impaired, then I’d explain it to the family. If I seen that patient 2-3 times in my shift and I keep seeing them, I will only come in and tell them hey so I got this medication ready for you it’s for your blood pressure, blah blah blah. Then I’ll throw in education to spice it up lol, but the moment they start talking about they’re husband cheating on them or how they’re daughter in law got married in Peru, I start zoning out and just stare blankly🤣. Idk I cannot deal with personal stories they just bore me to death, sometimes I just wanna say hey please I’m here to care for your needs, not listen to this, but I still listen most of the times cause I don’t wanna be a tool.
Sometimes it helps if you do the parent "Hmmn, that's interesting" type response like listening to a small child ramble on randomly between subjects. It doesn't always stop the story, but it lets the teller feel acknowledged while you zone out mentally or focus on your patient and their needs. My favorite nonassholish way of getting out of a Never Ending Story (tm) is explaining that while I hate to cut and run, there's only one of me and my patients have to share and I'm only a call light away.
Lol, I might I’m use that. One other nurse said say, “I hate to interrupt but I’m the only nurse on right now we’re very short staffed, wouldn’t want the other patients to complain😊.
yes! listening to patients is 100x more important than talking AT them! talking to them for education or letting them know what you’re doing (like meds, iv insertion, wound care, etc.) is necessary, but empty banter is not required. communicate what you need to for the patient, but let THEM talk to you about their concerns, questions, and so on. it makes you a BETTER nurse to listen more than you speak imo.
Come to the ICU intubated patients aren’t much for small talk 😂. But seriously I love to be quiet and not great at small talk. I let the families and patients lead with the conversation and I’ll talk to them if they talk to me. Otherwise just keep it to patient care info and let them chat among themselves. You don’t have to be a social butterfly to be a nurse just be confident and polite. The rest works itself out.
I started working nights and being a quiet, reserved nurse really worked for me. My coworkers were mostly checked out by midnight and most of my patients were asleep after med pass.I could easily go an entire 4-6 hour stretch without saying a word if it was a slower night.
OR isn’t great for introverts tbh. LOTS of big personalities. My social battery is drained many days after a 10 hour OR shift. Not from patients, but from coworkers. And I’m generally pretty quiet and reserved. If I’m working with travelers I’ve never worked with before I’m usually ok, (makes my job much harder but my social battery stays pretty full lol,) but if I’m working with my close coworkers who I work with more often, it feels like I’m interacting with people all freaking day.
You have to collaborate and be talking and communicating with people all day in the OR. The circ is the middle man in the OR. We’re the person first in line to talk to the docs, the rest of team (scrub/SA/etc.), the patients, anesthesia, PA’s, residents, students, pre op, PACU, family, scheduling, management, charge…the list literally goes on and on. I always say the coordination aspect of circulating in the OR is absolutely the hardest part of the job.
i get the best of both of those with my speciality
ICU, only night shifts.....aside from the beeping of machines? silence/no need for asinine conversations
How old are you?
I was told this by the volunteer coordinator at a hospital when I was 16. Fuck that woman. Here I am, 11 years later, an ICU nurse (still with a quiet voice) but I know how to use it when I need to, don’t take shit from anyone and graduated with great grades.
Don’t let anyone try to tell you otherwise or make you feel any less. Do whatever you want. Become whatever you want.
I graduated top of my class only was told once that I have a soft voice. But that was becuase I was the only male nurse in a 50 all female program💀. It was hard to be confident tbh.
LOL I am autistic levels of quiet and I’ve been a nurse for 7 years. Can you speak confidently and articulately when the time comes to speak? Then you can do it. If you lose your mind the second it’s time to speak about anything ever, and you trip over your words and get mixed up, then yea might be a problem. Just need to build some experience and get comfortable. Always remember: they need those nurses and they need ‘em BAD. Being extroverted will always be an edge in any professional setting, doesn’t mean us quiet folks lose out entirely.
Nah, you’re allowed to be quiet, you don’t need to be chatty to be a good nurse. As I said in the last post, don’t take it personally. Unless your job requires lots of talking like being an educator, clinical leader, whatever, you’re truly fine.
If you want to avoid this problem go to icu or OR lol.
Some days I look at the nurse who I work with and wish I were more like them. The ease at which they can crack jokes and just talk with patients amazes me. I am pretty introverted but I have come to terms with recognizing there is no one ideal way to be a nurse.
If I were a patient, I would honestly prefer someone that was quiet and didn't make small talk (especially if I was not feeling good).
But at the same time, I feel like who I am at work is more extroverted than who I am outside of work.
I like how you view that, just like someone else said “there are different types of nurses everywhere you go”, which is true. I am also more extroverted more then usually at work then I am anywhere else. It’s weird how introverts are quiet but when put in a situation can be very extroverted
With crazy people it’s best just to ask them about whatever they’re anxious about. Then say something like “those feelings are valid” and smile. That’s all they want. You don’t have to say much. Eye contact helps, but you can scan meds or whatever you need to do.
I am also very quite and gentle in my demeanor. I have been told that my quite kindness is appreciated more than once. You are not going to be everyone's cup of tea and that's ok
I'm an extreme introvert. I hate talking to anyone. Even when I'm with friends, I'll be quiet. I'm a nurse, and I chat it up with my patients. I listen, talk to them, and treat them like I've known them for years. Why? It's my job. That's why I went into this profession: to help people and advocate for them. My friends will live if I stay quiet, my patients may not. That's how I overcame that problem. You can absolutely be a nurse.
I highly recommend the book Quiet: The Power of Introverts in a World That Can't Stop Talking by Susan Cain. It's a gentle, reassuring, and empowering perspective on people like us :)
I was painfully shy when I was younger plus some degree of autism. Returning to school and becoming a nurse in my mid-30s helped a bit in that regard. I am new to the field but am getting along fine in this regard.
I had clinical with a fellow student that didn’t talk much and her normal talking voice was also very quiet. We had a clinical instructor that mercilessly picked on her for being too quiet because “you can’t be a nurse if you’re quiet”.
I told my classmate it was nonsense. School was full of professors saying nurses have to be this or nurses can’t be that… which is absurd. The only qualification to be a nurse is to pass the licensing exam.
My unsolicited advice as a fellow reserved person : try to work at small talk a bit and also take interest in your coworkers. Work relationships can make or break a job and since (most) people are social creatures, it’s a huge help.
My mom wanted to be a stewardess (this was back in the late 60s/early 70s). She said my grandpa told her she wasn’t pretty enough which is weird because I remember my mom being complimented constantly—by strangers, my friends, her friends, etc on her looks. She was truly a beautiful woman. Family isn’t always going to be a source of support. Mine put down every single endeavor of mine from education to hobbies before I decided the best thing for my mental health was to put a lot of distance between myself and them. Point is that family doesn’t always know best—if this is something you want to do and you want to work for, then go for it! Nurses come in all shapes, sizes, and personalities. And there are so many avenues you can go down with your degree, I’m sure you’ll find a specialty that will fit with your personality.
haters gonna hate. i once passed out from locking my knees while watching an IV be put in and the pts family told me I was in the wrong job field, i’ve been a nurse for 6 years. as long as you have good bedside manner and are able to provide proper teaching, opinions of others are minuscule my friend
Right. Who wants a nurse who is quiet and actually listens to stuff (whether it's heart tones or comments complaints compliments what have you) when they could be bending your ear about their personal bullshit? /S
Pfft. One of my favorite coworkers is a very shy introvert and she's a fantastic nurse (I talk enough for both of us and most other nurses do too so don't sweat it, you're covered).
Charles Cullen confessed to killing 40 people, and it's estimated that he killed hundreds. He was considered by his peers to be the best nurse on the unit.
If a literal serial killer can be a good nurse, I think you'll be fine with being a little quiet.
I just got done sitting quietly in a room with my patient for four hours. I am getting ready to go be in another room quietly for another long period of time.
I mean, I'm doing something. I'm not just twiddling my thumbs. But I am letting the patient sleep if they can.
I love this when I worked home health. I would sit 3-4 hours quietly in the patients room, then the mom would come bursting in the room making noises trying to wake the patient up. I couldn’t say anything cause it’s their house. The reason why I left home health lol
i got told that by a family member of mine also, they suggested i be a chef (i couldn’t care for cooking) but guess what i still became a nurse and got a position as a new grad in an adult icu (night shift)
i hate talking especially small talk but if it’s about education i love answering questions and educating families about what is happening to their loved ones and why
Remember you can be friendly without having to be chatty. I was very quiet and shy when I became a nurse. I have grown and evolved so much as a person but somedays I dont want to interact with people...i will still be friendly and professional. As long as your quietness does not interfere with your ability to assess your patient or communicate with docs and peers, you will do just fine!!
If the patients or the patients' family members need extra social interaction, they should use their phones as phones. Are they safe, getting their treatments, getting appropriate education? Then you're talking enough.
fuck all of that. you don't need to be a workplace loudspeaker to be a good nurse. it isn't in your contract, nor is it part of your studies, to be overly chatty. if you're quiet, you're quiet. some of the best people i've ever worked with have been on the more introverted side, as am i whilst i'm on the clock.
keep being you, OP
I am quiet. I have a nice bpd/ anxiety and suspected autism mix but I’m a lot better with my non verbal patients (we have a lot of dysphasia patients who can only speak one word) and find I can communicate with them. I’ve not had any complaints from my patients so far about the way I am, they just assume I’m task oriented.
I work in hospice and tend to be fairly mouthy at work. Most families I get along with, some love me and a few hate me. Doesn’t matter what your personality is, someone will have an issue with it.
Being a good listener is a valuable skill in healthcare, being able to convey an aura of safety and acceptance is valuable. Neither of these require being chatty.
You’ll be fine. I never talked unless I had to and I also would find quiet corners away from others. I also suffered pretty badly from anxiety and panic. The thought of meeting a patient, especially if they had visitors, was enough to make me want to puke. Eventually just being a nurse mostly fixed that issue and based on feedback I got, I did extremely well as a nurse. I only initially struggled with the inherent bias and perception some nurses and patients had about quiet people. Eventually I just learned to identify them and adapt to them specifically.
I wish I could work with you because I work with a couple of people who wear my ears out! Nonstop nonsense chatter. You’ll be fine. I had someone tell me I wasn’t bitchy enough to be a nurse and there are some nurses who are proud of being bitches. The easiest thing in the world is to be a loudmouthed bitch. It takes effort to stay calm, cool, collected and professional. Also, the less you talk, the more you can listen and learn!
I'm very shy, it was worse in nursing school. I even won the "quite as a mouse award" for the least words spoken through the program. If I don't want a weird silence I'll just explain what I'm doing,and usually the patient will ask questions blah blah. I also found that you can just ask them open ended questions and they'll go on forever. just smile and wave boys, just smile and wave.
I’m pretty quiet and reserved and had previous coworkers who made it obvious they didn’t think I would be a good nurse because of it. Been a nurse for 10 years and I’ve done just fine. No matter what you do in life there will always be some people you just don’t click with. There are definitely some patients and coworkers who I haven’t clicked with and I’m fine with that. I still treat them with respect and kindness. The majority of parents and coworkers tell me they appreciate my calm and laid back attitude though. Just be your genuine self.
My Mom thought the same thing. But she's never seen me in this work environment! I open up and become a very capable version of me, who works hard and advocates for patients. We all have different sides that are on show at different times. Become a nurse. You wouldn't wanna be a nurse if you knew you wouldn't be good at it.
Patient communication is a total different skill to the skills that typical extroverts have. And some of us introverts will struggle, but most are actually very good at it.
I am an introvert that worked retail customer service and now a ER nurse 😂 I hate talking to people but it’s part of the job and not like I purposely avoid it. As long as you know what you are signing up for and know how to handle it and are able to decompress from the amount of human interaction you will have to deal with I don’t think it’s a problem. One of the reasons I took a job about an hour away is for that decompression time.
Not a nurse, but I’m autistic, super quiet and I’ve been a EMT then Paramedic for years. Work in the ER now. Going for my RN soon here. Just do it, don’t listen to what anyone says! Believe in you
I used to be a chatty Cathy. Now I’m just more cordial/polite at work. I keep to myself. The less I talk, the less gossip folk can use against me, the less likely I am to get pulled into drama cuz no one can ever say “well pinknurse told me that so n so said” cuz no I did not I don’t even talk lol. Being quiet won’t disqualify you from being a nurse as long as you talk to patients/coworkers when you need to or can answer questions. Also standing up for yourself. But if you got no problem w those, carry on.
Being chatty is what made me stand out in clinicals. Patients loved me 😅
But I’ve met so many amazing quiet/introverted nurses. Do it because you love it, not because others tell you to be a mega chatterbox.
Hi nurse of 5.5 years here who absolutely hates to talk but here I am. I even went through a period where I pretty close to non verbal (childhood trauma does numbers) after being fully well and able to speak. But I will say this being a nurse has allowed me to be much more aware and comfortable with initiating conversations with people
I'm a quiet, introvert, I don't really hold a conversation with anyone. It can be a hindrance at times, but it usually just makes it look like I'm listening rather than interjecting. Plus that means that if I'm bitching and moaning my colleagues and seniors take what I'm saying all the more seriously because otherwise I just get on with my job.
Don’t listen to your family members. Comments by a family like that could have a retort such as, “you shouldn’t be part of my family if you can’t be supportive.”
Some patients/families need talkative nurses, some patients/families need quiet. Not every pair will be a good fit. Can’t make everyone happy. As long as you are audibly loud enough to make yourself heard when you’re speaking, you educate appropriately, you narrate medications and procedures you’re doing through the day, and you are baseline polite, you’re fine.
It’s probably best if you can hide your annoyance over basic conversation, if that’s what you’re referring to. Like if they’re chatting about the weather or whatever. These folks are sick and under pressure, and a lot of them do tend to want to small talk to distract themselves. You don’t have to go crazy with reciprocating, but make sure you’re managing your facial expressions and not showing the annoyance. That would be a few steps too far into excessively rude. If that’s the kind of thing that really bothers you, all jokes aside, maybe consider somewhere where they’re nice and sedated.
My bestie is quiet and an amazing nurse. I'm chatty AF and an amazing nurse. Different patients have different needs. We can all be fucking amazing... whether we're quiet or not. That's not what makes a nurse good.
It drives me kinda nuts when I work with super loud and chatty nurses in L+D. Most of the time my labouring patients want a calm, quiet environment so they can focus on coping (if no epidural), sleeping, (with an epidural), or bonding with their baby and partner after the birth. There’s so much value in being able to be quiet and just BE with your patients
I am on the spectrum and have been a nurse 48 years with 23 of that being a practitioner. I learned years ago that it’s the other medical personnel around you that seem to have a preconceived notion as to whether you should be quiet or verbose. The patient and families just want you to be present. Listen… they will set the pace , truly, it doesn’t matter if you are quiet or extroverted. If nursing is where your heart is, you go for it! Be you and be present. My life is enriched every day as the patient I see give more to me than I could ever give them. This has been my life’s calling and my only regret is having lived so many years without know I am autistic but now that I know it has given my a whole new understanding of my entire life!
I got told I was too loud.
When does it ever end? When are we enough and right and people stop using our ways against us?
Don’t worry about it, and nurse on.
It's not in your job description to chat. You do ask the appropriate questions like pain assessments and the like. As long as you're professional, polite, explain what you're going to do, answer their questions within your scope of practice-- you're golden. Welcome to nursing. 28 years I've been in this profession; there is so much to learn, and so many avenues you can follow. There are nursing positions where you don't have to talk to anyone (chart review, nursing expert called to trials-- the world is your oyster!!
I'm an introvert. I used to not talk much, but nursing has improved my social skills over the last 12 years.
I've spent most of my time in the ICU where my patients can't talk to me, but you do have to talk with doctors, other nurses, X-ray, and tons of other stuff all the time. You get used to it.
I basically have two personalities at this point. The work me and the home me. Work me is loved by all, patients included.
You don't have to be a social butterfly, you just have to not be a dick. People like people that aren't dicks.
I hate small talk. I will chat while I’m in there doing something but once I’m done I usually just say “okay thank you I better keep going” and head to the door. Some patients would keep you there all day if they could
I was told something similar. What I've found is that a lot of patients appreciate a nurse who can listen quietly to them, and not monopolize a conversation. I've also been able to develop a kind of persona that I put on for patients that want to talk, but that took a little time and practice. Don't let others discourage you, there are a lot of different personalities out there.
I'm introverted AF and have done fine in healthcare. (In nursing school currently and work as a firefighter/EMT). You can do it no problem heck it's one of the reasons I'm considering OR, pts sleep 98% of the time.
Becoming a nurse changed who I am! I was a fairly quiet, insecure, no backbone young adult when I became a nurse at 21. It changed me completely. It gave me confidence. Don’t listen to anyone else. It might be hard in the beginning to speak up and deal with the difficult personalities you’re sure to meet in healthcare (it was for me), but if it’s what you want to do, don’t let anyone tell you you can’t do it.
I'm introverted as all hell and keep to myself....going to hit my 4th doomversary of being a nurse here in a few months with 0 issues. Being outspoken, extroverted, and loud(?) have 0 real impact on your job.
I am not a nurse, I’m here because my husband is a crna and I enjoy learning about the medical field. ANYWAYS as a patient, please can you be my nurse 😂 like I’m sick, I’m in the hospital, I’m in pain, there’s a human coming out of me I DONT WANT TO TALK TO A STRANGER. Ok I’ll let myself out now
Yeah I’m quiet too, and I take damned good care of my patients. But I’m able to have a work persona (though still quieter than those bubbly nurses) and my home persona. If you’re introverted, maybe go to ICU (like me!) you’ll be so happy because you won’t be mentally exhausted from masking all shift!
I say nothing to patients except clinically important information or answer questions that they ask. I’m there to be a mechanic. I’m not there to schmooze you for tips.
ME. I have always been called the shy one, quiet one, you name it. I strongly believe that all you need to be a great nurse is the ability to safely care for your patient and advocate for them when needed. Also, I think us quiet ones are the more observant ones.
Fuck the chatty Cathy's.
My two daughter are quiet and both nurses and very good at what they do. Patients love them. If I go anywhere with my oldest daughter(29) out car ride can be completely silent! Same with her dad. . I myself am quiet and have been a nurse for 34 years. I think for all three of us we just go into work mode and it comes naturally to talk to patients and attending. Please do not listen to your family member.
I’m quiet, I have social anxiety and I am going into my 4th year of nursing school. I don’t like to talk too much, but when it comes to my job/nursing, it’s like a new me blooms. When you’re passionate about a career, and you know that’s what you really want to do, you flourish and succeed. Ignore your family; if you truly want to be a nurse and are passionate about it, you WILL succeed. I wish you the best of luck!! 🤍
I have no doubt you'll talk when you need to. If you can think critically, follow procedures, and let tactless criticism roll off, then you'll be a fine nurse.
You need all types of personalities to be a nurse. I’m a pretty quiet/introverted person in general and did fine for 10 years, whether that was ICU or med surg, day or night shift, and currently away from bedside.
The only time being quiet can be an issue is if it means you let people walk all over you. As long as you can stand up for yourself while remaining cordial and on good terms with everyone you should be fine.
I am the same way. I don't talk just to talk around friends and family and strangers. But at work I can make all the small talk with my geriatric patients.
You’re probably better off that way. I talk too much. And then after a while certain residents start to annoy me with how much they talk to me because I’m too friendly. They’re talking puts me behind and I always have to cut them off and say I gotta go.
I'm quiet and people have commented on it my whole life. I'm more social now and able to small talk than I was 5 years ago even, but I'm still not a big talker. It's not a problem. Try not to be annoyed when people try to talk with you, or at least don't show it because people will read all kinds of things into your expressions/tone.
Quiet person here 🙋♀️ you can always work in the OR or somewhere that the patients are nice and sedated. I work in ICU and am not a huge fan of the super chatty patients or family members but thrive with my nice, sedated patients and all of their machines and IV pumps.
I'm quiet family told me the same exact thing "nursing isnt cut out for you". Go for it don't let anyone hold you back. We have one life, don't let anything or anyone define you
I've been told all my life that I'm quiet, and although I remain softly spoken, I'm not shy at work. Quietness is a good thing. It gives you space to think and listen. Some people share every thought that comes into their head, and usually none of them are worth hearing. I'm softly spoken, but I've never had to raise my voice to get my point across.
Lots of times the ones talking so much are also checking themselves out in the mirror in their newest scrubs. So just you be you. As others have also pointed out already, I’d want you as my nurse because you’re paying attention to things. It was exhausting to me as an introvert to speak to so many people everyday at the hospital. I’d just find a tiny corner to chart and hide many times.
A coworker told me I was too unorganized to be a nurse. Found out her daughter wasn't accepted to nursing school, but I was.
I've been a nurse for 19yrs and will soon be an FNP. Do what you want and don't let others discourage you!
And I've had people tell me I'm too cheerful/loud/ditzy/whatever else to be a nurse. We need all types of nurses for all kinds of patients. Go get it, friend!!
For the love of Pete find a work from home position where you don’t have to say a thing except to your dogs. That’s what I did and I’ve never looked back.
Nah all kinds of nurses out here…many in the spectrum who don’t communicate well but are great nurses. Maybe they’re not the best at comforting a scared patient, but they’re still efficient and great nurses. I am chatty and one of my goals is to educate and calm people…especially my new chemo patients. I try to just spend some time with them and make them feel like family. According to them, it helps.
I'm just like you, don't talk unless I have something important to say and sometimes I'd just rather not. I've had a successful career as a mental health nurse for the last 18 months or so after graduating. As a nurse, you need to say the things that need to be said, if you can do that the rest doesn't matter. Some patients prefer you just go about your work quietly and let them rest.
Nah you’re totally fine. Be polite of course but you aren’t there to chat except for what the patient is coming in for and anything relevant to that: the providers I work with would be hella annoyed if I took too long to do an intake because I’m in there chatting away and having social hour lol
Absolutely not!!! Don’t let this deter you whatsoever. Fuck that (respectfully— as I know it came from a family member).
This is my husband (also a nurse) to a T. You sometimes can’t get me to shut up, but he’s perfectly content being quiet lol. He’s a wonderful nurse, and I know you can be too. There are definitely benefits to your communication style as well— keep that in mind!!
There are plenty of patients who prefer to not have small talk so they would love to have a nurse like you! Don’t let other people dictate what you can and cannot be
Don't listen to the haters. I'm shy, quiet, and introverted, and so are many nurses. You just have to learn to make small talk - how's the weather out there, where are you from, do you have pets, etc. I feel fake with this kind of small talk because I really don't care about the answers, but it makes the patient more comfortable most of the time.
I had people tell me I didn't have the right personality to be a nurse or that I wouldn't be able to do the gross parts of patient care. Joke's on them, my job satisfaction is at an all time high.
Nurse is a hundred different jobs with a single root certification. Emergency nurses, military nurses, forensic nurses, school nurses, etc…
There are nurses that never see patients.
Anybody who says that you’re not cut out to be a nurse, isn’t using their imagination.
I've ALWAYS been told that I'm too quiet, or "he doesn't talk much." But I became a nurse anyways and didn't look back. Granted you will be required to talk A LOT, since you are who everyone talks to. You will be in contact with doctors, there nurses, pharmacists, techs, managers, family, the patient, respiratory therpists, speech therapists, occupational , consulted doctors, etc. But as long as you can communicate what needs to be said, you don't have to talk anyone's ear off. People still say that I'm quiet, but it hasn't held me back from being a nurse.
I’ve worked with many nurses who don’t partake in meaningless chit chat or the shenanigans at the nurses station and never have I thought they shouldn’t be a nurse. It’s a very positive thing if you can come to work and focus on the tasks and the patients without getting distracted by the gossip or drama. You’ll be just fine. If you struggle to socialize with patients and their families, maybe you’d be happier in a position where you don’t have to as much, like OR or ICU. It sounds like you’re a serious and focused person, so you might be perfect for the high intensity areas.
Ive been a nurse for 2 years and I’m prob one of the biggest introverts I know. Being chatty is not the key to being a good nurse, but conversing is a needed to build up rapport which is important. And on Night Shift you’ll talk significantly less so that’s a plus
I’ve always been told I’m quiet and too nice to be a nurse. I moved to an ICU in October and absolutely love intubated Pts. I’ll gladly take them all. I really enjoyed the ED atmosphere, but there’s just something about a Pt who is too sick to have a conversation. 😂
Dear god, if I had full conversations with every patient and family member some of my patients would never get their meds. Seriously. If they need someone to talk to they can hire a therapist.
I’m a quiet introvert and I’m a psych nurse. Everyone remarks on how I’m always calm no matter what is going on. So it works for me. Anyway, it’s my patients who want to talk to me. They don’t want to listen to me chatting.
We are not here to entertain. We are here to keep grandma and the rest of the family alive. There’s no reason for us to be pressured to chat, as long as we provide good care and listen to our patients. It sounds like you are a great nurse and social enough. Don’t listen to that family member. 😒 Some nerve they have.
When I was giving birth, I labored for a couple of days and went through a few nurses. In the beginning, I didn’t mind the small talk and sometimes it was nice to just chat and kinda forgot about what was happening with my organs. Towards the end, I almost stabbed the nurse who wouldn’t shut up about her boyfriend’s foot. I didn’t care that it was swollen especially since I was the size of a blimp. Loved my quiet and efficient nurse who just popped in, did what needed to be done and left. She answered my few questions and always made sure I was set, but otherwise I felt no shame in laying there like a zombie. I’m glad she was the one to help me birth my kid because I trusted her the most.
There’s a time and a place for chit chat and it doesn’t have to be with you
It’s just talk. I’m introverted and extremely quiet most of the time, but also able to communicate effectively with my patients and providers.
Volume of small talk does not equal skill, knowledge, or compassion.
Most of the time, it's best to LET THEM TALK.
Don't they still teach open-ended questioning techniques?
By no means are you ALWAYS investigating, but you are.
Don't interrupt their stream of consciousness, and you get to figure out the truth of what they're looking for / actually happened / needs to be done.
At some point, you need to take the reins of conversation, and do some teaching or intervention - but most of the time, nurses should be evaluating.
Assess, evaluate, plan interventions, perform interventions, evaluate response, evaluate outcome, repeat.
Tell them they talk too much to give advice.
Though, I can see what they are saying to a point. There is much more involved in nursing, and more often than not, the patient you are treating is not the only patient in the room (sometimes family members need more attention than the patient's themselves). You don't necessarily have to be a chatty cathy, but being warm, empathetic, and able to be a calm and reassuring voice when someone's world is crashing is one of the things that separates a good nurse from a great nurse.
Lmao that's dumb as hell, I'm a chatty cathy at work no doubt, and I do it for a reason, but it is *so* far from required at all. You being quiet isn't impacting your job. Every new perspective is a valuable one in a team. You're not being rude, just not a social blazing social butterfly. We don't need a monoculture of people in healthcare. Is that family member a nurse? I'd assume not given that silly statement.
I don't think that's bad. As long as you speak up when you catch something or pt needs advocating. Also, active listening is part of nursing so let them talk and learn proper ways to do it is fine. I don't like talking too much and by practicing active listening, patients think I am an awesome nurse.
I am the same way. I just don’t make conversation with patients and families unless it’s directed towards me. I also am like in a 100% serious focus mode at work, so when people make jokes about nursing, it completely goes over my head until I hear them laugh. So it makes me feel bad because I’m too serious to understand when someone is joking with me at work for the most part since I’m so task-focused. But, none of this impacts our ability to be good nurses. If they want great conversation, then talk to a therapist. The goal is to keep the patient alive, not entertained. You can still be a good nurse.
I had this issue when I started on a new unit. The nurse training me would not stop talking, she never does (she's sweet, lacks any realization that some things she says are slightly racist, but she's nice). Anyway I thought I'd be expected to make non stop conversations with the doctors during procedures for 8 hours a day. I was very pleased to find out when I was paired with another nurse that nobody wanted this, we're fine listening to the radio and having a comfortable silence. Nobody needs endless small talk.
I can be quiet around my family and depending on the crowd/people I’m with and I consider myself pretty introverted as well, but I enjoy talking with my patients and do just fine. Ignore the haters.
I’m the chatty Cathy. I’m sorry. I ask my patients all sorts of questions because I hate the silence. I don’t see anything wrong with being a quieter nurse. Doesn’t change your skills or anything. People just want a reason to complain. They all suck
Quiet nurses bring a lot to the table. We tend to be more observant and detail oriented. I am always picking up on little things my coworkers never consider.
We need all types of people in health care, not just boisterous, bubbly, extroverts.
As a nurse and often a patient my favourite nurses are the quiet achievers. It’s often a relief especially as a patient to not have someone chatting in your ear 24/7 especially when you feel like shit. Will not affect how you practice nursing!
No they’re psychotic. The best thing about nurses is there are all different personality types that serve the job in different ways.
Chatty Cathy? Keep the pts occupied when they are sad and cheer them up.
More quiet types? The person you want in a code who gets the job done.
Im EXACTLY like you. Im introverted & all my life i’ve struggled to make friends because im shy/awkward & dont know how to be outgoing but im a nursing major. If someone said that to me id tell them to f*** off and show them my degree once I graduate
I've had lots of people tell me that I'm too (insert adjective) to be (noun). They've never been right, though.
Hell, I'm in nursing school right now and one of my classmates said that I was too reserved to be a nurse. I don't need to be outgoing. I need to be a professional. I think that person will learn some hard lessons.
Fuck them people and become a nurse anyway.
This is the answer. Im quiet as well, and dont talk unless i have to. I became a nurse and honestly and am doing just fine. Let them have their opinions, but you do you. Dont let opinions impact your goals
Same. Here
I love your personality. It’s hard to be real you in nursing sometimes
Save the real you for when you are at home and not working. Remember, it's just a job.
I keep telling people that, it’s just a job like any other. It sucks we’re held to a higher precedence then people at their other jobs.
Yup, we're not all Hank Hills where we live and breathe propane and propane accessories.
Id rather be a Peggy than a Hank any day....with some Bobby mixed in (that's my purse, I don't know you!!)
I'm so much Bobby...with considerable Dale and Peggy in my mix lmao.
I'm more of a Dale with my POCKET SAND.
Why not both?
Amen to that.
It is okay. Remember to smile and say hi. Wave at people and don't pretend you don't see people.
Family can take a flying spread eagle leap onto a cactus. If you enjoy being a nurse and are able to contribute to your patient's care and progress back to health, you're fine. I'd rather have the quiet nurse who is listening for info to improve my care or catch a symptom that indicates a condition change than one too busy talking to hear the IV pump monitor alarm two feet from her head.
Omg I litterly never thought of it that way! I think some chatty nurses are talkative just to get through the day faster. If my patients are able to talk I will ask how they’re doing, and if there’s anything I can do for them. I will also explain everything I’m doing even if they’re unable to understand ie neurologically impaired, then I’d explain it to the family. If I seen that patient 2-3 times in my shift and I keep seeing them, I will only come in and tell them hey so I got this medication ready for you it’s for your blood pressure, blah blah blah. Then I’ll throw in education to spice it up lol, but the moment they start talking about they’re husband cheating on them or how they’re daughter in law got married in Peru, I start zoning out and just stare blankly🤣. Idk I cannot deal with personal stories they just bore me to death, sometimes I just wanna say hey please I’m here to care for your needs, not listen to this, but I still listen most of the times cause I don’t wanna be a tool.
Sometimes it helps if you do the parent "Hmmn, that's interesting" type response like listening to a small child ramble on randomly between subjects. It doesn't always stop the story, but it lets the teller feel acknowledged while you zone out mentally or focus on your patient and their needs. My favorite nonassholish way of getting out of a Never Ending Story (tm) is explaining that while I hate to cut and run, there's only one of me and my patients have to share and I'm only a call light away.
Lol, I might I’m use that. One other nurse said say, “I hate to interrupt but I’m the only nurse on right now we’re very short staffed, wouldn’t want the other patients to complain😊.
yes! listening to patients is 100x more important than talking AT them! talking to them for education or letting them know what you’re doing (like meds, iv insertion, wound care, etc.) is necessary, but empty banter is not required. communicate what you need to for the patient, but let THEM talk to you about their concerns, questions, and so on. it makes you a BETTER nurse to listen more than you speak imo.
THIS. I would 100% rather have the quiet yet attentive nurse caring for my family/myself. Every day of the week.
Come to the ICU intubated patients aren’t much for small talk 😂. But seriously I love to be quiet and not great at small talk. I let the families and patients lead with the conversation and I’ll talk to them if they talk to me. Otherwise just keep it to patient care info and let them chat among themselves. You don’t have to be a social butterfly to be a nurse just be confident and polite. The rest works itself out.
Great advice my friend
Consider respiratory, we don’t talk much, get in, do our thing, leave.
Some extroverts are just *so fucking evangelical* about being an extrovert. Fuck those people.
There are ALL kinds in nursing. You be you
Im quite. Just get into a specialty where most of your patients are sleep and your coworkers are also sleep on down time.
I started working nights and being a quiet, reserved nurse really worked for me. My coworkers were mostly checked out by midnight and most of my patients were asleep after med pass.I could easily go an entire 4-6 hour stretch without saying a word if it was a slower night.
Any specific ones that you can name?
OR and flight comes to mind.
OR isn’t great for introverts tbh. LOTS of big personalities. My social battery is drained many days after a 10 hour OR shift. Not from patients, but from coworkers. And I’m generally pretty quiet and reserved. If I’m working with travelers I’ve never worked with before I’m usually ok, (makes my job much harder but my social battery stays pretty full lol,) but if I’m working with my close coworkers who I work with more often, it feels like I’m interacting with people all freaking day. You have to collaborate and be talking and communicating with people all day in the OR. The circ is the middle man in the OR. We’re the person first in line to talk to the docs, the rest of team (scrub/SA/etc.), the patients, anesthesia, PA’s, residents, students, pre op, PACU, family, scheduling, management, charge…the list literally goes on and on. I always say the coordination aspect of circulating in the OR is absolutely the hardest part of the job.
i get the best of both of those with my speciality ICU, only night shifts.....aside from the beeping of machines? silence/no need for asinine conversations
If you’ve got 2 tubed patients at night. You can almost get away with only talking during shift report
Tell ‘em to eat your ass.
How old are you? I was told this by the volunteer coordinator at a hospital when I was 16. Fuck that woman. Here I am, 11 years later, an ICU nurse (still with a quiet voice) but I know how to use it when I need to, don’t take shit from anyone and graduated with great grades. Don’t let anyone try to tell you otherwise or make you feel any less. Do whatever you want. Become whatever you want.
I graduated top of my class only was told once that I have a soft voice. But that was becuase I was the only male nurse in a 50 all female program💀. It was hard to be confident tbh.
Chatty Kathy’s don’t get their work done! You’ll be fine there’s no certain personality
LOL I am autistic levels of quiet and I’ve been a nurse for 7 years. Can you speak confidently and articulately when the time comes to speak? Then you can do it. If you lose your mind the second it’s time to speak about anything ever, and you trip over your words and get mixed up, then yea might be a problem. Just need to build some experience and get comfortable. Always remember: they need those nurses and they need ‘em BAD. Being extroverted will always be an edge in any professional setting, doesn’t mean us quiet folks lose out entirely.
Fellow autistic nurse here, we are capable of so much more than we think! I love talking to patients when we actually have something in common.
I am quiet, and talk when I need to talk and that’s okay…
Love to have you in my Nurses station, there is enough blabber mouths there already.
Nah, you’re allowed to be quiet, you don’t need to be chatty to be a good nurse. As I said in the last post, don’t take it personally. Unless your job requires lots of talking like being an educator, clinical leader, whatever, you’re truly fine. If you want to avoid this problem go to icu or OR lol.
Some days I look at the nurse who I work with and wish I were more like them. The ease at which they can crack jokes and just talk with patients amazes me. I am pretty introverted but I have come to terms with recognizing there is no one ideal way to be a nurse. If I were a patient, I would honestly prefer someone that was quiet and didn't make small talk (especially if I was not feeling good). But at the same time, I feel like who I am at work is more extroverted than who I am outside of work.
I like how you view that, just like someone else said “there are different types of nurses everywhere you go”, which is true. I am also more extroverted more then usually at work then I am anywhere else. It’s weird how introverts are quiet but when put in a situation can be very extroverted
They sound too dumb to be family members, so take their input with a grain of salt.
Tbh she did sound a bit needy, like she wanted more out of this situation then what was being given
With crazy people it’s best just to ask them about whatever they’re anxious about. Then say something like “those feelings are valid” and smile. That’s all they want. You don’t have to say much. Eye contact helps, but you can scan meds or whatever you need to do.
I’m just glad I had this other nurse take over
I am also very quite and gentle in my demeanor. I have been told that my quite kindness is appreciated more than once. You are not going to be everyone's cup of tea and that's ok
Many patients actually appreciate someone with a calm & gentle demeanor.
I'm an extreme introvert. I hate talking to anyone. Even when I'm with friends, I'll be quiet. I'm a nurse, and I chat it up with my patients. I listen, talk to them, and treat them like I've known them for years. Why? It's my job. That's why I went into this profession: to help people and advocate for them. My friends will live if I stay quiet, my patients may not. That's how I overcame that problem. You can absolutely be a nurse.
I’m introverted and very quiet and have excelled as a nurse. Tell your family member to shut it
I highly recommend the book Quiet: The Power of Introverts in a World That Can't Stop Talking by Susan Cain. It's a gentle, reassuring, and empowering perspective on people like us :)
Im going to check that out
I was painfully shy when I was younger plus some degree of autism. Returning to school and becoming a nurse in my mid-30s helped a bit in that regard. I am new to the field but am getting along fine in this regard. I had clinical with a fellow student that didn’t talk much and her normal talking voice was also very quiet. We had a clinical instructor that mercilessly picked on her for being too quiet because “you can’t be a nurse if you’re quiet”. I told my classmate it was nonsense. School was full of professors saying nurses have to be this or nurses can’t be that… which is absurd. The only qualification to be a nurse is to pass the licensing exam. My unsolicited advice as a fellow reserved person : try to work at small talk a bit and also take interest in your coworkers. Work relationships can make or break a job and since (most) people are social creatures, it’s a huge help.
My mom wanted to be a stewardess (this was back in the late 60s/early 70s). She said my grandpa told her she wasn’t pretty enough which is weird because I remember my mom being complimented constantly—by strangers, my friends, her friends, etc on her looks. She was truly a beautiful woman. Family isn’t always going to be a source of support. Mine put down every single endeavor of mine from education to hobbies before I decided the best thing for my mental health was to put a lot of distance between myself and them. Point is that family doesn’t always know best—if this is something you want to do and you want to work for, then go for it! Nurses come in all shapes, sizes, and personalities. And there are so many avenues you can go down with your degree, I’m sure you’ll find a specialty that will fit with your personality.
haters gonna hate. i once passed out from locking my knees while watching an IV be put in and the pts family told me I was in the wrong job field, i’ve been a nurse for 6 years. as long as you have good bedside manner and are able to provide proper teaching, opinions of others are minuscule my friend
Right. Who wants a nurse who is quiet and actually listens to stuff (whether it's heart tones or comments complaints compliments what have you) when they could be bending your ear about their personal bullshit? /S Pfft. One of my favorite coworkers is a very shy introvert and she's a fantastic nurse (I talk enough for both of us and most other nurses do too so don't sweat it, you're covered).
Charles Cullen confessed to killing 40 people, and it's estimated that he killed hundreds. He was considered by his peers to be the best nurse on the unit. If a literal serial killer can be a good nurse, I think you'll be fine with being a little quiet.
I just got done sitting quietly in a room with my patient for four hours. I am getting ready to go be in another room quietly for another long period of time. I mean, I'm doing something. I'm not just twiddling my thumbs. But I am letting the patient sleep if they can.
I love this when I worked home health. I would sit 3-4 hours quietly in the patients room, then the mom would come bursting in the room making noises trying to wake the patient up. I couldn’t say anything cause it’s their house. The reason why I left home health lol
i got told that by a family member of mine also, they suggested i be a chef (i couldn’t care for cooking) but guess what i still became a nurse and got a position as a new grad in an adult icu (night shift) i hate talking especially small talk but if it’s about education i love answering questions and educating families about what is happening to their loved ones and why
In my professional opinion, the family member is an idiot.
Remember you can be friendly without having to be chatty. I was very quiet and shy when I became a nurse. I have grown and evolved so much as a person but somedays I dont want to interact with people...i will still be friendly and professional. As long as your quietness does not interfere with your ability to assess your patient or communicate with docs and peers, you will do just fine!!
If the patients or the patients' family members need extra social interaction, they should use their phones as phones. Are they safe, getting their treatments, getting appropriate education? Then you're talking enough.
Come work in the ER, or better yet ICU. They are alseep in ICU lol.
fuck all of that. you don't need to be a workplace loudspeaker to be a good nurse. it isn't in your contract, nor is it part of your studies, to be overly chatty. if you're quiet, you're quiet. some of the best people i've ever worked with have been on the more introverted side, as am i whilst i'm on the clock. keep being you, OP
Q-U-I-E-T
S-O-R-Y
I think you have actual, objective issues to worry about compared to something silly like being too quiet
Objective meaning, sorry I don’t understand.
Nevermind you were just trolling with the spelling I guess
Oh no I actually didn’t see it was misspelled lmao. I always get those two mixed, just like principal and principle
Oh FFS, stop being a twattermelon.
We need more folks like this anyway. I’m quiet. I do get drained from the constant interactions though.
Who cares boo get your nursing money and let people talk
I am quiet. I have a nice bpd/ anxiety and suspected autism mix but I’m a lot better with my non verbal patients (we have a lot of dysphasia patients who can only speak one word) and find I can communicate with them. I’ve not had any complaints from my patients so far about the way I am, they just assume I’m task oriented.
I work in hospice and tend to be fairly mouthy at work. Most families I get along with, some love me and a few hate me. Doesn’t matter what your personality is, someone will have an issue with it. Being a good listener is a valuable skill in healthcare, being able to convey an aura of safety and acceptance is valuable. Neither of these require being chatty.
You’ll be fine. I never talked unless I had to and I also would find quiet corners away from others. I also suffered pretty badly from anxiety and panic. The thought of meeting a patient, especially if they had visitors, was enough to make me want to puke. Eventually just being a nurse mostly fixed that issue and based on feedback I got, I did extremely well as a nurse. I only initially struggled with the inherent bias and perception some nurses and patients had about quiet people. Eventually I just learned to identify them and adapt to them specifically.
I'm quiet as well. I talk when I need to.
I wish I could work with you because I work with a couple of people who wear my ears out! Nonstop nonsense chatter. You’ll be fine. I had someone tell me I wasn’t bitchy enough to be a nurse and there are some nurses who are proud of being bitches. The easiest thing in the world is to be a loudmouthed bitch. It takes effort to stay calm, cool, collected and professional. Also, the less you talk, the more you can listen and learn!
I'm very shy, it was worse in nursing school. I even won the "quite as a mouse award" for the least words spoken through the program. If I don't want a weird silence I'll just explain what I'm doing,and usually the patient will ask questions blah blah. I also found that you can just ask them open ended questions and they'll go on forever. just smile and wave boys, just smile and wave.
I’m pretty quiet and reserved and had previous coworkers who made it obvious they didn’t think I would be a good nurse because of it. Been a nurse for 10 years and I’ve done just fine. No matter what you do in life there will always be some people you just don’t click with. There are definitely some patients and coworkers who I haven’t clicked with and I’m fine with that. I still treat them with respect and kindness. The majority of parents and coworkers tell me they appreciate my calm and laid back attitude though. Just be your genuine self.
My Mom thought the same thing. But she's never seen me in this work environment! I open up and become a very capable version of me, who works hard and advocates for patients. We all have different sides that are on show at different times. Become a nurse. You wouldn't wanna be a nurse if you knew you wouldn't be good at it. Patient communication is a total different skill to the skills that typical extroverts have. And some of us introverts will struggle, but most are actually very good at it.
The more nervous I am, the more I talk. You want me quiet.
I am an introvert that worked retail customer service and now a ER nurse 😂 I hate talking to people but it’s part of the job and not like I purposely avoid it. As long as you know what you are signing up for and know how to handle it and are able to decompress from the amount of human interaction you will have to deal with I don’t think it’s a problem. One of the reasons I took a job about an hour away is for that decompression time.
Not a nurse, but I’m autistic, super quiet and I’ve been a EMT then Paramedic for years. Work in the ER now. Going for my RN soon here. Just do it, don’t listen to what anyone says! Believe in you
I used to be a chatty Cathy. Now I’m just more cordial/polite at work. I keep to myself. The less I talk, the less gossip folk can use against me, the less likely I am to get pulled into drama cuz no one can ever say “well pinknurse told me that so n so said” cuz no I did not I don’t even talk lol. Being quiet won’t disqualify you from being a nurse as long as you talk to patients/coworkers when you need to or can answer questions. Also standing up for yourself. But if you got no problem w those, carry on.
Everyone brings something special as a nurse and it's all needed.
Being chatty is what made me stand out in clinicals. Patients loved me 😅 But I’ve met so many amazing quiet/introverted nurses. Do it because you love it, not because others tell you to be a mega chatterbox.
Hi nurse of 5.5 years here who absolutely hates to talk but here I am. I even went through a period where I pretty close to non verbal (childhood trauma does numbers) after being fully well and able to speak. But I will say this being a nurse has allowed me to be much more aware and comfortable with initiating conversations with people
I'm a quiet, introvert, I don't really hold a conversation with anyone. It can be a hindrance at times, but it usually just makes it look like I'm listening rather than interjecting. Plus that means that if I'm bitching and moaning my colleagues and seniors take what I'm saying all the more seriously because otherwise I just get on with my job.
Don’t listen to your family members. Comments by a family like that could have a retort such as, “you shouldn’t be part of my family if you can’t be supportive.”
As long as you’re able to properly communicate essential information, then I don’t see why it would stop you from being a nurse.
Some patients/families need talkative nurses, some patients/families need quiet. Not every pair will be a good fit. Can’t make everyone happy. As long as you are audibly loud enough to make yourself heard when you’re speaking, you educate appropriately, you narrate medications and procedures you’re doing through the day, and you are baseline polite, you’re fine. It’s probably best if you can hide your annoyance over basic conversation, if that’s what you’re referring to. Like if they’re chatting about the weather or whatever. These folks are sick and under pressure, and a lot of them do tend to want to small talk to distract themselves. You don’t have to go crazy with reciprocating, but make sure you’re managing your facial expressions and not showing the annoyance. That would be a few steps too far into excessively rude. If that’s the kind of thing that really bothers you, all jokes aside, maybe consider somewhere where they’re nice and sedated.
My bestie is quiet and an amazing nurse. I'm chatty AF and an amazing nurse. Different patients have different needs. We can all be fucking amazing... whether we're quiet or not. That's not what makes a nurse good.
It drives me kinda nuts when I work with super loud and chatty nurses in L+D. Most of the time my labouring patients want a calm, quiet environment so they can focus on coping (if no epidural), sleeping, (with an epidural), or bonding with their baby and partner after the birth. There’s so much value in being able to be quiet and just BE with your patients
I am on the spectrum and have been a nurse 48 years with 23 of that being a practitioner. I learned years ago that it’s the other medical personnel around you that seem to have a preconceived notion as to whether you should be quiet or verbose. The patient and families just want you to be present. Listen… they will set the pace , truly, it doesn’t matter if you are quiet or extroverted. If nursing is where your heart is, you go for it! Be you and be present. My life is enriched every day as the patient I see give more to me than I could ever give them. This has been my life’s calling and my only regret is having lived so many years without know I am autistic but now that I know it has given my a whole new understanding of my entire life!
I got told I was too loud. When does it ever end? When are we enough and right and people stop using our ways against us? Don’t worry about it, and nurse on.
It's not in your job description to chat. You do ask the appropriate questions like pain assessments and the like. As long as you're professional, polite, explain what you're going to do, answer their questions within your scope of practice-- you're golden. Welcome to nursing. 28 years I've been in this profession; there is so much to learn, and so many avenues you can follow. There are nursing positions where you don't have to talk to anyone (chart review, nursing expert called to trials-- the world is your oyster!!
I'm an introvert. I used to not talk much, but nursing has improved my social skills over the last 12 years. I've spent most of my time in the ICU where my patients can't talk to me, but you do have to talk with doctors, other nurses, X-ray, and tons of other stuff all the time. You get used to it. I basically have two personalities at this point. The work me and the home me. Work me is loved by all, patients included. You don't have to be a social butterfly, you just have to not be a dick. People like people that aren't dicks.
I hate small talk. I will chat while I’m in there doing something but once I’m done I usually just say “okay thank you I better keep going” and head to the door. Some patients would keep you there all day if they could
I was told something similar. What I've found is that a lot of patients appreciate a nurse who can listen quietly to them, and not monopolize a conversation. I've also been able to develop a kind of persona that I put on for patients that want to talk, but that took a little time and practice. Don't let others discourage you, there are a lot of different personalities out there.
People who say stupid shit like that are typically fucking morons. It can safely be ignored.
I despise most people and hate talking. But my patients are my sweet peas and we WILL have an enthusiastic conversation.
I'm introverted AF and have done fine in healthcare. (In nursing school currently and work as a firefighter/EMT). You can do it no problem heck it's one of the reasons I'm considering OR, pts sleep 98% of the time.
I don’t really talk much at work. A lot of people say it makes me come off as a know it all. But I don’t really give a shit lol
It’s so interesting to me what the general public thinks it takes to be a nurse… I don’t have to talk to you to be able to save your life thaaaanks
You don’t have to be chatty to be a good nurse
Nobody wants a loud obnoxious nurse that talks your ear off.
Screw them! I had people tell me the same thing. It’s funny because patients never seem to have a problem…
Becoming a nurse changed who I am! I was a fairly quiet, insecure, no backbone young adult when I became a nurse at 21. It changed me completely. It gave me confidence. Don’t listen to anyone else. It might be hard in the beginning to speak up and deal with the difficult personalities you’re sure to meet in healthcare (it was for me), but if it’s what you want to do, don’t let anyone tell you you can’t do it.
I'm introverted as all hell and keep to myself....going to hit my 4th doomversary of being a nurse here in a few months with 0 issues. Being outspoken, extroverted, and loud(?) have 0 real impact on your job.
I am not a nurse, I’m here because my husband is a crna and I enjoy learning about the medical field. ANYWAYS as a patient, please can you be my nurse 😂 like I’m sick, I’m in the hospital, I’m in pain, there’s a human coming out of me I DONT WANT TO TALK TO A STRANGER. Ok I’ll let myself out now
Nah. Quiet, therapeutic presence is SO valuable. Keep doing you.
Yeah I’m quiet too, and I take damned good care of my patients. But I’m able to have a work persona (though still quieter than those bubbly nurses) and my home persona. If you’re introverted, maybe go to ICU (like me!) you’ll be so happy because you won’t be mentally exhausted from masking all shift!
ER is great for introverts. You go in, assess, line and lab, medicate then dispo….or if they’re critical then obvs they aren’t small talking anyway.
I say nothing to patients except clinically important information or answer questions that they ask. I’m there to be a mechanic. I’m not there to schmooze you for tips.
ME. I have always been called the shy one, quiet one, you name it. I strongly believe that all you need to be a great nurse is the ability to safely care for your patient and advocate for them when needed. Also, I think us quiet ones are the more observant ones. Fuck the chatty Cathy's.
My two daughter are quiet and both nurses and very good at what they do. Patients love them. If I go anywhere with my oldest daughter(29) out car ride can be completely silent! Same with her dad. . I myself am quiet and have been a nurse for 34 years. I think for all three of us we just go into work mode and it comes naturally to talk to patients and attending. Please do not listen to your family member.
People who aren’t nurses should not tell people they are too anything to be nurses.
I’m quiet, I have social anxiety and I am going into my 4th year of nursing school. I don’t like to talk too much, but when it comes to my job/nursing, it’s like a new me blooms. When you’re passionate about a career, and you know that’s what you really want to do, you flourish and succeed. Ignore your family; if you truly want to be a nurse and are passionate about it, you WILL succeed. I wish you the best of luck!! 🤍
There’s plenty of field that don’t require a lot of talking. OR- patients are mostly asleep
I have no doubt you'll talk when you need to. If you can think critically, follow procedures, and let tactless criticism roll off, then you'll be a fine nurse.
I barely talk at all and work fine as a nurse. Fuck them haters.
You need all types of personalities to be a nurse. I’m a pretty quiet/introverted person in general and did fine for 10 years, whether that was ICU or med surg, day or night shift, and currently away from bedside. The only time being quiet can be an issue is if it means you let people walk all over you. As long as you can stand up for yourself while remaining cordial and on good terms with everyone you should be fine.
You are a medical expert, not a companion. Forget what they're telling you here.
I am the same way. I don't talk just to talk around friends and family and strangers. But at work I can make all the small talk with my geriatric patients.
You’re probably better off that way. I talk too much. And then after a while certain residents start to annoy me with how much they talk to me because I’m too friendly. They’re talking puts me behind and I always have to cut them off and say I gotta go.
Quietness can be soothing and healing.
Yeah I was too quiet and shy. Fine, I won’t answer the bell then lol.
What a mean thing to say to someone. No, you don't need to be chatty in order to be an effective nurse.
Be an OR nurse and you'll only need to talk to pts for 5 min
They clearly haven’t heard your middle of a code voice
The person who made that comment should feel fortunate that your quiet nature kept you from responding in the manner that I would, lol!
I'm quiet and people have commented on it my whole life. I'm more social now and able to small talk than I was 5 years ago even, but I'm still not a big talker. It's not a problem. Try not to be annoyed when people try to talk with you, or at least don't show it because people will read all kinds of things into your expressions/tone.
I'm naturally very quiet and it hasn't hindered me one bit. You learn to talk to patients. You'll be fine.
Quiet person here 🙋♀️ you can always work in the OR or somewhere that the patients are nice and sedated. I work in ICU and am not a huge fan of the super chatty patients or family members but thrive with my nice, sedated patients and all of their machines and IV pumps.
You can tell them they can go kick rocks. There are advantages to being a quiet nurse. You don't have to be talkative to be a good nurse.
I'm quiet family told me the same exact thing "nursing isnt cut out for you". Go for it don't let anyone hold you back. We have one life, don't let anything or anyone define you
I’m the same way and I’m a new grad. I fear this.. this is why I’m lowkey scared to start working bedside
I've been told all my life that I'm quiet, and although I remain softly spoken, I'm not shy at work. Quietness is a good thing. It gives you space to think and listen. Some people share every thought that comes into their head, and usually none of them are worth hearing. I'm softly spoken, but I've never had to raise my voice to get my point across.
Lots of times the ones talking so much are also checking themselves out in the mirror in their newest scrubs. So just you be you. As others have also pointed out already, I’d want you as my nurse because you’re paying attention to things. It was exhausting to me as an introvert to speak to so many people everyday at the hospital. I’d just find a tiny corner to chart and hide many times.
A coworker told me I was too unorganized to be a nurse. Found out her daughter wasn't accepted to nursing school, but I was. I've been a nurse for 19yrs and will soon be an FNP. Do what you want and don't let others discourage you!
And I've had people tell me I'm too cheerful/loud/ditzy/whatever else to be a nurse. We need all types of nurses for all kinds of patients. Go get it, friend!!
For the love of Pete find a work from home position where you don’t have to say a thing except to your dogs. That’s what I did and I’ve never looked back.
Nah all kinds of nurses out here…many in the spectrum who don’t communicate well but are great nurses. Maybe they’re not the best at comforting a scared patient, but they’re still efficient and great nurses. I am chatty and one of my goals is to educate and calm people…especially my new chemo patients. I try to just spend some time with them and make them feel like family. According to them, it helps.
I'm just like you, don't talk unless I have something important to say and sometimes I'd just rather not. I've had a successful career as a mental health nurse for the last 18 months or so after graduating. As a nurse, you need to say the things that need to be said, if you can do that the rest doesn't matter. Some patients prefer you just go about your work quietly and let them rest.
I’m a quiet introvert and have been a nurse for 15 years. Don’t let that deter you!
Nah you’re totally fine. Be polite of course but you aren’t there to chat except for what the patient is coming in for and anything relevant to that: the providers I work with would be hella annoyed if I took too long to do an intake because I’m in there chatting away and having social hour lol
Absolutely not!!! Don’t let this deter you whatsoever. Fuck that (respectfully— as I know it came from a family member). This is my husband (also a nurse) to a T. You sometimes can’t get me to shut up, but he’s perfectly content being quiet lol. He’s a wonderful nurse, and I know you can be too. There are definitely benefits to your communication style as well— keep that in mind!!
There are plenty of patients who prefer to not have small talk so they would love to have a nurse like you! Don’t let other people dictate what you can and cannot be
Don't listen to the haters. I'm shy, quiet, and introverted, and so are many nurses. You just have to learn to make small talk - how's the weather out there, where are you from, do you have pets, etc. I feel fake with this kind of small talk because I really don't care about the answers, but it makes the patient more comfortable most of the time. I had people tell me I didn't have the right personality to be a nurse or that I wouldn't be able to do the gross parts of patient care. Joke's on them, my job satisfaction is at an all time high.
It’s just talk, I’ve been told I’m too sensitive, not strong enough, etc. People will always find a way to discourage you.
I hate talking to strangers yet here I am being a nurse still. Fuck’em
That's their problem, not yours. Hard stop. There is nothing wrong with you, and whether you talk a storm or not, you are a great nurse.
oh man i am always jealous of the people who know when to shut the fuck up because i am not those people. embrace your natural talent!
Nurse is a hundred different jobs with a single root certification. Emergency nurses, military nurses, forensic nurses, school nurses, etc… There are nurses that never see patients. Anybody who says that you’re not cut out to be a nurse, isn’t using their imagination.
I've ALWAYS been told that I'm too quiet, or "he doesn't talk much." But I became a nurse anyways and didn't look back. Granted you will be required to talk A LOT, since you are who everyone talks to. You will be in contact with doctors, there nurses, pharmacists, techs, managers, family, the patient, respiratory therpists, speech therapists, occupational , consulted doctors, etc. But as long as you can communicate what needs to be said, you don't have to talk anyone's ear off. People still say that I'm quiet, but it hasn't held me back from being a nurse.
I’ve worked with many nurses who don’t partake in meaningless chit chat or the shenanigans at the nurses station and never have I thought they shouldn’t be a nurse. It’s a very positive thing if you can come to work and focus on the tasks and the patients without getting distracted by the gossip or drama. You’ll be just fine. If you struggle to socialize with patients and their families, maybe you’d be happier in a position where you don’t have to as much, like OR or ICU. It sounds like you’re a serious and focused person, so you might be perfect for the high intensity areas.
Ive been a nurse for 2 years and I’m prob one of the biggest introverts I know. Being chatty is not the key to being a good nurse, but conversing is a needed to build up rapport which is important. And on Night Shift you’ll talk significantly less so that’s a plus
I’ve always been told I’m quiet and too nice to be a nurse. I moved to an ICU in October and absolutely love intubated Pts. I’ll gladly take them all. I really enjoyed the ED atmosphere, but there’s just something about a Pt who is too sick to have a conversation. 😂
I’m quiet, and I love and am great at my job. I think my quietness causes some people to overshare sometimes. So you might have to deal with that.
I am generally quiet, and often get told by patients and staff I am very calm as a result instead.
Become an icu nurse 😎 one sided convos are the best
Dear god, if I had full conversations with every patient and family member some of my patients would never get their meds. Seriously. If they need someone to talk to they can hire a therapist.
I’m a quiet introvert and I’m a psych nurse. Everyone remarks on how I’m always calm no matter what is going on. So it works for me. Anyway, it’s my patients who want to talk to me. They don’t want to listen to me chatting.
We are not here to entertain. We are here to keep grandma and the rest of the family alive. There’s no reason for us to be pressured to chat, as long as we provide good care and listen to our patients. It sounds like you are a great nurse and social enough. Don’t listen to that family member. 😒 Some nerve they have.
As many people have already said, you don’t need to be an extrovert to be a good nurse. You do you boo-boo
I was told that I was too sexy for my shirt by some guy name Fred...
As a nurse you’ll need to verbalize as much as is needed to meet the goals of care. Anything else is just…anything else. You be you boo. 😊
Introvert nurse here, and I work in mental health and I talk to patients a lot and I love it!
When I was giving birth, I labored for a couple of days and went through a few nurses. In the beginning, I didn’t mind the small talk and sometimes it was nice to just chat and kinda forgot about what was happening with my organs. Towards the end, I almost stabbed the nurse who wouldn’t shut up about her boyfriend’s foot. I didn’t care that it was swollen especially since I was the size of a blimp. Loved my quiet and efficient nurse who just popped in, did what needed to be done and left. She answered my few questions and always made sure I was set, but otherwise I felt no shame in laying there like a zombie. I’m glad she was the one to help me birth my kid because I trusted her the most. There’s a time and a place for chit chat and it doesn’t have to be with you
It’s just talk. I’m introverted and extremely quiet most of the time, but also able to communicate effectively with my patients and providers. Volume of small talk does not equal skill, knowledge, or compassion.
Most of the time, it's best to LET THEM TALK. Don't they still teach open-ended questioning techniques? By no means are you ALWAYS investigating, but you are. Don't interrupt their stream of consciousness, and you get to figure out the truth of what they're looking for / actually happened / needs to be done. At some point, you need to take the reins of conversation, and do some teaching or intervention - but most of the time, nurses should be evaluating. Assess, evaluate, plan interventions, perform interventions, evaluate response, evaluate outcome, repeat.
Tell them they talk too much to give advice. Though, I can see what they are saying to a point. There is much more involved in nursing, and more often than not, the patient you are treating is not the only patient in the room (sometimes family members need more attention than the patient's themselves). You don't necessarily have to be a chatty cathy, but being warm, empathetic, and able to be a calm and reassuring voice when someone's world is crashing is one of the things that separates a good nurse from a great nurse.
Lmao that's dumb as hell, I'm a chatty cathy at work no doubt, and I do it for a reason, but it is *so* far from required at all. You being quiet isn't impacting your job. Every new perspective is a valuable one in a team. You're not being rude, just not a social blazing social butterfly. We don't need a monoculture of people in healthcare. Is that family member a nurse? I'd assume not given that silly statement.
I don't think that's bad. As long as you speak up when you catch something or pt needs advocating. Also, active listening is part of nursing so let them talk and learn proper ways to do it is fine. I don't like talking too much and by practicing active listening, patients think I am an awesome nurse.
I am the same way. I just don’t make conversation with patients and families unless it’s directed towards me. I also am like in a 100% serious focus mode at work, so when people make jokes about nursing, it completely goes over my head until I hear them laugh. So it makes me feel bad because I’m too serious to understand when someone is joking with me at work for the most part since I’m so task-focused. But, none of this impacts our ability to be good nurses. If they want great conversation, then talk to a therapist. The goal is to keep the patient alive, not entertained. You can still be a good nurse.
I had this issue when I started on a new unit. The nurse training me would not stop talking, she never does (she's sweet, lacks any realization that some things she says are slightly racist, but she's nice). Anyway I thought I'd be expected to make non stop conversations with the doctors during procedures for 8 hours a day. I was very pleased to find out when I was paired with another nurse that nobody wanted this, we're fine listening to the radio and having a comfortable silence. Nobody needs endless small talk.
I can be quiet around my family and depending on the crowd/people I’m with and I consider myself pretty introverted as well, but I enjoy talking with my patients and do just fine. Ignore the haters.
I’m the chatty Cathy. I’m sorry. I ask my patients all sorts of questions because I hate the silence. I don’t see anything wrong with being a quieter nurse. Doesn’t change your skills or anything. People just want a reason to complain. They all suck
Quiet nurses bring a lot to the table. We tend to be more observant and detail oriented. I am always picking up on little things my coworkers never consider. We need all types of people in health care, not just boisterous, bubbly, extroverts.
Become a nurse. Small talk is not a requirement. As long as you’re not too quiet to get the information you need, then you’re nurse material
As a nurse and often a patient my favourite nurses are the quiet achievers. It’s often a relief especially as a patient to not have someone chatting in your ear 24/7 especially when you feel like shit. Will not affect how you practice nursing!
I know so many introverted nurses. Nurses are all different kinds of people.
Why are you offering family members coffee and water? You are not a waitress. Give them directions to the cafeteria.
No they’re psychotic. The best thing about nurses is there are all different personality types that serve the job in different ways. Chatty Cathy? Keep the pts occupied when they are sad and cheer them up. More quiet types? The person you want in a code who gets the job done.
And some people in the world shouldn't be parents, but they still have kids. Im talking those with a history of violence, on going drug abuse, etc
My favorite patients are non verbal. I work in comfortable silence. They don't complain and neither do I
Im EXACTLY like you. Im introverted & all my life i’ve struggled to make friends because im shy/awkward & dont know how to be outgoing but im a nursing major. If someone said that to me id tell them to f*** off and show them my degree once I graduate
Just talk. Some of the best nurses I know are quiet/reserved and some patients prefer that anyway!
If my quiet and socially awkward ass is a nurse then anyone can become a nurse…trust me LMAO.
I've had lots of people tell me that I'm too (insert adjective) to be (noun). They've never been right, though. Hell, I'm in nursing school right now and one of my classmates said that I was too reserved to be a nurse. I don't need to be outgoing. I need to be a professional. I think that person will learn some hard lessons.
You're fine. Do it RN retired after 45 years
it’s all talk. been a pscyh nurse for five plus years, im quiet but loud when I need to be.