During my years of nursing, I always wondered whether there was a better job out there for my personality type–my introversion never let up, regardless of how many patients I saw throughout the day. But let’s face it: not everyone can be extroverted, and there are plenty of us who get anxious to even leave the house some days. (Ahem, me. I’m “plenty of us.”) We introverts want to help people, too; so, what are our options?
Introverted nurses can thrive in the field without sacrificing comfort with positions like nurse education, private duty nursing, and plenty more. Not to mention, introversion is surprisingly beneficial for nursing in general; extroverted personalities aren’t the only avenue for success.
If you’re an introvert pursuing a nursing career or looking to shift perspectives away from the bedside, you’re in the right place. I’ll uncover some of the best nursing jobs for anxious introverts like myself and offer you some insight into why your anti-social personality is a valuable asset within the field.
Top 6 Jobs for Introverted Nurses
It’s not uncommon to be hesitant or apprehensive about your nursing career. Trust me. I know how it feels to become a little bundle of nerves at the idea of having to give up my precious moment of solitude in the comfort of the utility closet to go spend long hours communicating with patients.
But, I also know how it feels to love my job.
That said, the benefits of being a nurse certainly outweigh my social troubles. I wouldn’t give it up over my yearning for independence and seclusion. At times, it feels impossible. And if you’re an introvert who doesn’t necessarily thrive in social situations, you might wonder whether you’ll ever feel comfortable in your career. But, good news! I’ve conjured up a list of the top six jobs for reserved nurses, so you can ditch the dread of going into work every day and feel at ease while you live out your nursing dreams.
Nurse Educator
Nurse educators take on a teaching role to help established nurses further their education or teach nursing students the ins and outs of the nursing world.
Now, I know being an educator basically means you’ll be surrounded by people but, hear me out. Educating allows you to work alone. You get to be independent as a nurse educator and control how and when you interact with people. Nurse educators can be responsible for designing nursing programs, implementing them, overseeing clinicals, and revising various aspects of education.
Although this job takes quite a bit of research and additional training, it’s a great option for anxious introverts who are looking to take a step back from the bedside. Teaching can be intimidating, but it could also be a stellar fit for those who thrive working with the same group of people on a day-to-day basis. Rather than running around and assisting new patients each shift, you’ll see the same faces every day, which can be a bit less stressful.
Telehealth Nursing
The pandemic brought this position into the limelight, and that’s arguably a great thing for some of us introverted homebodies. Telehealth nurses work with patients over the phone or via webcam. You can chat with people to discuss their symptoms and help them with any medical help they may need.
The best part about telehealth nursing is that it’s typically a remote position that can be done anywhere you can find a stable internet connection. So, these days, it can be performed literally anywhere. If you’re anything like me, then home is where the heart is. And it’ll probably never leave. Plenty of telehealth nursing positions allow you to work from the comfort of your home. Yes, that means you can leave the PJ pants on, my friend.
Remote nursing also offers you the opportunity to work one-on-one with patients, which is helpful if you’re not big on large groups. Not only that, but visits are typically short, cutting down on the amount of time you have to communicate with your patients and allowing you to have some beloved alone time in between calls.
Private Duty Nursing
Private duty nursing is similar to in-home care services, but with more qualified medical care and nursing training. Private duty nurses can care for patients from their own homes or in facilities.
If you’re keen on working one-on-one with few people, private duty nursing might be one of the best nursing positions for you. Rather than visiting with endless amounts of patients throughout each shift, you’d visit with a select few patients one-on-one for long-term care. You consult the same patients regularly and assess their needs to ensure they can continue to live alone. Privat duty nursing also allows you to form closer bonds with fewer people and avoid overdoing social interaction.
Nurse Case Manager
Nurse case management centers around evaluating and providing the best quality care for patients depending on their needs. Case managers generally work with individual patients to help determine effective medical health care plans and find the best costs for treatment.
The best part about nurse case management is the administrative work. Introverted personalities often flourish as nurse case managers because they have plenty of time spent alone while plugging away on case management. Not only that, but it can be the ideal role for someone who prefers working one-on-one with individuals rather than larger groups or various patients at one time.
Forensic Nursing
Social interaction is considerably less prevalent as a forensic nurse than a bedside nurse. Forensic nurses typically assist patients who have undergone some sort of violence or harm, including sexual or domestic abuse. Forensic nurses provide legal testimony for criminal violence and provide exceptional medical care for victims.
Forensic nurses see quite a bit of trauma, but they’re often the perfect fit for these unconventional patients. If you’re an introvert, you’re likely empathetic and compassionate, making you the ideal person to conduct such sensitive care.
And, instead of having usual rounds as a bedside nurse, forensic nurses generally work with a smaller and more focused patient list. Not to mention, if you really dislike social interaction in large groups, forensic nurses have far less opportunity to hang out in social situations, and instead, connect with their patients one-on-one.
Nurse Researcher
Did you love nursing school? Well, if so, here’s your opportunity to continue doing research and learn forever. Nurse researchers are basically scientists who work on various research projects to help gain insight on different diseases, medications, etc.
As a nurse researcher, you wouldn’t spend time with patients on the floor as a clinical nurse does. Instead, you’d spend more time in a lab or office analyzing data and reporting research findings. Most interaction for a nurse researcher is between the administration and team members, appealing to those who dislike routinely meeting and connecting with new people.
Not only that, but nurse researchers don’t have to spend any time dealing with family members. If you know, you know.
What Qualities Make an Introvert the Ideal Nurse?
If you love being a clinical nurse working bedside with patients but just struggle getting yourself to work every day, don’t worry; I get it. Some introverted nurses don’t necessarily want to leave their jobs for new ones, and that’s alright, too. I’ve had plenty of mental battles, telling myself that I couldn’t be a good nurse if I’m not a social person. I always lost.
You shouldn’t have to live with the persistent thoughts that you aren’t “cut out” for nursing. “Introvert” is not a synonym for “bad nurse.” That said, let’s go over a few of the most valuable characteristics of introverts that make us the perfect fit for nursing so you can feel confident in your role.
We’re Intuitive and Observant
As introverts, we’re quieter. We let other people do the talking so we can observe the room and pay attention to the subtle clues around us. I guess you can say we’re always one step ahead. We can also read people well and often notice the unspoken yet relevant feelings of patients.
We’re Gentle and (Usually) Easy-Going
Generally, reserved and unsocial people send off some of the calmest vibes. The softer approach enables patients and families to feel more at ease about their situations, especially in stressful environments.
We’re Amazing Listeners
Introverts tend to hang out in the background. And, although people might think we aren’t paying attention, we are. We like to hang back and scope out situations, which, in turn, helps us always learn new information and support others while they shine in patient-care scenarios. And we basically always hear key things that nobody else does. (Are we…better than everyone?)
Bottom Line
We introverts got to stick together. Nursing isn’t always easy for those who like their solitude and peace. Fortunately, we have options away from the bedside to find new ways to empower ourselves and thrive in less-social environments while pursuing our nursing goals. Go after what you know is best for you; we all know you have the qualities to help you along the way.
