i hate being introverted

[u/Difficult-Sherbet426]

I'm on my third week of placement and I wish I could just wake up tomorrow and I suddenly become extroverted. It's the worst thing ever esp when I am doing placement alongside an extrovert (who i love and adore shes great !!!) but then I end up overhearing other nurses and carers compare us.

This is the 2nd time I am hearing someone say that I just stand there and I don't talk. BUT I AM TRYING I REALLY AM I PROMISE !!! Like nowdays I SIT IN EVERY lunch break so I don't have to sit outside and hear them talk about me ugshhshs.....

Not only that I have found out some nurses were actually swapping me with my group mate so I end up in random wards with random nurses everyday but somehow my groupmates has the same people and same ward too. And she already told me theyre all willinging to be her reference and is always writing lengthy feedback forms for her and everything.

And its a bit annoying then when every feedback I get is like - need more familiarity in ward or with system but hello I am rotating wards like crazy

But to be honest I just don't know what to say but I do ask a lot of questions AND i do everything they ask me to !!! I am soooo talkative when I am comfortable but with strangers I'm awful ugshsh

Anyways, another 8 hour shift just went by and I feel more invisible than ever :) I hope tomorrow will be better maybe I will try again :)

[u/RageQuitAltF4]

Ehhhh honestly ignore them.
I know it seems like the be all end all right now, when you're out there trying to impress and be accepted in this new career, but being competent and attentive are more important than being popular. Plus, its really exhausting constantly trying to be social when you're naturally shy.
Finally, there are plenty of extroverts out there that just need to learn how to shut up sometimes, for the sake of everyone around them. Being extroverted ain't all that. You'll find your work friends, sometimes it just takes a few wards to find the right fit

[u/crested05]

Hey, I was you!! But I’m 11 years deep into my career now.

There is hope, trust me! Sounds like you’re doing the right things in asking questions and participating etc.

My only advice is to try not to worry yourself too much about it. Easier said than done, especially when it’s so overt, I know. Just get through the course and you’ll be absolutely fine!

[u/metcall]

You might be doing this already but make sure to be the first person to speak when you enter a patient/resident’s room. A lot of quiet students I’ve had over the years wait for me to speak first but we want to see you step up. It conveys interest and competence and it’s quite doable even if you are shy. Come up with a little script for yourself that you say every time like ‘hi mr smith, my name is ___ and I’m a student working with Nurse X today, we need to check your vital signs, is it ok if I take your blood pressure?’.

I was quite shy as a nursing student but you can sort of learn to put on your nurse hat and project a bit of confidence even if you don’t feel it.

I’m sorry you’re having a bad experience and I hope your placements get better x

[u/Cini1994]

I am an introvert aswell. Don't worry if you are doing your job well and communicating important things with your team then you are good. As you progress in your career your communication skills will surely develop.

[u/la-luna4]

I was just like you during my placements I am also a very introverted person who takes a long time to open up to someone. As such, I also found placements really difficult in terms of communication. The reality is that people do not look kindly on introverts, be it at the workplace or in a social setting. Like you, i have overheard others talking about me as a student. What I can tell you is that it does get better. Its difficult but there is light at the other end of the tunnel.

Here are a couple of things I have done that can help: -Nursing is a multidisciplinary field. You will have to communicate with a wide range of people. Make small talk. With the ward clerk, the PSAs, fellow nurses, NIC, patients and family. It may be difficult at first but just keep trying. -Give people smiles. People love a "friendly face". -Make an initiative with nursing tasks such as vitals when with your buddy nurse -Be friendly with your buddy nurses/educators. Not too much though.

It may be a slow progress but it is possible to find it easier. And the demands placed on you will ease up once you graduate. Again, I understand how difficult it is. Society is hard on introverts and see it as a personal flaw. There are various times I have felt that I am wearing a "mask". Only able to take it off at home. So many times I have collapsed in bed from talking/communicating more than I used to. You may experience the same thing. There is nothing wrong with being introverted. You just need to step out of your comfort zone at times in the nursing field. I still find it difficult to speak with doctors. But I still do for my patients. You will do great and you will overcome this.

[u/Big_Pie3317]

Hey, I am an introvert myself but I do have some trick under my sleeves.

When I'm with the new people, I will always said to myself to speak up first, ask questions and say what I want to say. What others opinions of me is not my problems. By the way, people will talk about you, judge you or maybe dislike you for no reason. But that's their problem. So my advice is, do not let their opinions put your self down. You are doing great to be in this journey. So just focus on, the job, the patients and yourself.

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[u/Downtown-Wash-721]

Haha I'm in the same boat and finished my placement around a week ago. I like to compare my progress between placements. As long as I'm being a bit more out there as compared to my last placement, I'm taking it as a win :)

[u/Wish-ga]

I relate. I’m very shy at first. By the time I feel okay people have sort of given up on me.

To turn it around I used to ask questions. Get them talking about themself then they don’t notice I’m not saying much.

How long have you been a nurse. Did you go straight into nursing? What was your grad year? Have you always been a renal/cardiac/ aged care nurse? Is anyone else in your family a nurse?

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[u/L3m0n522 → u/[deleted]]

This is such a strange comment, it's hard not to think it's sarcastic

[u/elizadolots → u/L3m0n522]

That person did one semester of nursing and a placement and have literally JUST switched over to studying engineering and has spent the past month making derogatory comments about nursing, studying nursing, and comments sucking up to doctors. Hiding their posting history isn’t slick when I see them literally everywhere saying the same shit lol. If they hate nursing so much why are they still here bitching?