Tips for Introverted NPs

I entered the medical field because I had a knack for science.  In elementary school, I told questioning adults my favorite class was science.  In middle school, I was an avid member of the earth science club.  In high school, my favorite class was anatomy and physiology and I won an award for having the highest grade.  Science had always came naturally to me, so becoming a physician or nurse seemed like the best path for my career.  In college I majored in biology and I think I was the only student who actually enjoyed the second semester of O Chem.  Throughout my nurse practitioner program, my interest in pathophysiology and pharmacology was reinforced.  Yes, medicine was for me.  Then, it was time to start seeing patients.

I am an introvert.  My family and friends would say the same.  Unfortunately, no one had warned me about the social part of practicing medicine, you know, interacting with 30 or so patients every day.  I see a new person every 10 to 30 minutes of every day.  I found, and sometimes still find, the amount of conversation and social engagement required by my position to be one of its most demanding aspects.

Working as a midlevel in my practice requires a lot of acute and urgent care.  I do have my own patient panel, but it is not nearly as large as the physician's panels.  So, forming long-term relationships with patients has not been the norm.  I enter a patient's room and immediately have to develop report.  I introduce myself, shake a few hands, and survey the situation.  I ask questions about the patient's medical condition and work to instill confidence on part of the patient and the family (as they are likely thinking I look like I am 12 years old.)  For an introvert, this can be tremendously draining and I can get burned out.  I know there are other introverted health care providers out there, so here are some tips...

The great part about the conversations we have with patients is that they lend themselves to asking questions rather than forcing us to be the one to do the talking.  Introverts tend to be good listeners so use this aspect of your personality as an advantage.  I have found that I don't have to do much of the actual talking in the patient interaction.

Getting into a routine with how I conduct a patient visit leads to less effort.  Have a standard introductory greeting to explain who you are and the role you will play in the patient's care.  Have a set of questions you ask patients with common presentation of illness.  Develop explanations for pathologies of disease.  As you get in the habit of doing these things, you will exert less energy figuring out what to say leaving you with more left in the tank at the end of the day.

Communicating by email isn't typically an option for taking the stress out of patient visits, but when you find yourself facing a difficult conversation with an administrator or coworker, it may be.  Write down your thoughts to help plan the conversation.  As an introvert, this allows you the added time for reflection you may need to communicate your thoughts effectively.

The temptation to think "I'm the wrong person for the job" when I'm exhausted from talking to patients every day is real.  But really, it is a chance for growth.  God continues to try to shape me to be more like Jesus in giving me the ability to engage with and care for a lot of people at one time.  Being introverted is not a character flaw.  This challenge has helped me to grow professionally but also personally.  This is one situation where what you learn on the job just may benefit you at the next family get together or class reunion.

As an introvert, I require time to decompress at the end of a busy day.  I tend to feel exhausted and overstimulated.  Nothing that 30 minutes alone can't fix, which is why I am thankful for my commute to and from work.  Take the time you need to recharge at the end (or the beginning) of the day.  Make time for the alone time that you need.  This way you will have the energy you need to tackle your next shift. 

The Waynesburger.

Josh and I recently discovered a new, delicious gem of a restaurant called the Waynesburger.  If you live in Southcentral Pennsylvania, I would encourage you to meander over to downtown Waynesboro for some fresh, tasty food.  The Waynesburger is actually known for their gyros and other Greek food options contrary to the restaurant's name.  My personal favorite was the falafel platter; seriously divine.  You can also enjoy a gourmet burger or one of their 51 flavors of milkshakes.  Enjoy!