Can I Be a Nurse if I’m Shy?
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Question:
Dear Counselor, I am 18 years old and taking a year off school to decide what I want. I think I want to be an LPN but I’m very shy. I hate being the center of attention but I hear that happens when you have to give reports and information. Is nursing a bad choice then? Thanks! Lorri
Answer:
Dear Lorri,
Thanks for your question – it’s obviously something you’ve been thinking a lot about and hopefully my answer will help you relax a bit. Being shy is only a handicap to doing certain jobs if you allow it to be.
Oddly enough, some people who are horrendously shy in social situations are anything but shy while they are at work. Would you believe that many actors and performers say they are painfully shy and yet we see them perform umpteen times in front of thousands and sometimes millions of people?
The difference between being shy on a personal level and not being shy professionally is that your role changes at work.
People who are shy on a personal level are often like that because they feel they have nothing to offer to a given situation. They don’t want to be noticed because they fear being put on the spot. However, a trained nurse does know what he or she is doing. Trained, licensed nurses know how to do their assigned tasks, what answers to give to certain questions and what questions to ask themselves. In other words, it’s sort of a controlled environment that allows you to be the nurse you want to be.
Of course, shyness may make it a bit harder to get through nursing school, but only if you let it interfere with your behavior and reactions. Since you are at school to learn, it’s not a bad thing to admit if you don’t know something. Asking questions and putting yourself out there gives you the opportunity to learn and grow, giving you more confidence.
Don’t believe me? Think back to things you enjoy doing. Do you play any sports like baseball or soccer? Do you do anything in the arts, such as play an instrument or paint? Do you enjoy doing volunteer work? Are you in any organizations or clubs? Think about how you feel when you are doing what you love, what you believe in. Chances are, your shyness doesn’t hold you back or if it does, you likely fight past it.
If, though, you are the type of person who does find shyness is keeping you from doing things you want to do, whether it be entering nursing or joining an interesting group or club, then you may want to look in to ways to reducing your shyness levels. You could do this alone or with help.
Seeking help from a counselor could be helpful for people who feel their shyness is extreme. Working with a counselor would allow you to help identify what, if any specific, causes your feelings of shyness. And, even if you can’t pinpoint a specific event or issue, working with someone could help you gain tools that you can use to get past being shy.
If you want to be a nurse, you should follow your heart. And if that means making a pit stop with a counselor, then so be it. Life is too short to live with regrets of not following a desire or passion if it is something you can work on. Good luck!
Tags: licensed practical nurse, LPN, nursing school, shy nurse
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