A nurse must be kind, gentle, patient, able to multitask, have
strong critical thinking skills, and confident to make decisions and act
quickly under pressure. Much is required
of nurses. It is not a job meant for
everyone. Personalities and
characteristics must support the skills necessary to thrive in the field of
nursing.
Our personalities shape our behavior and interpersonal
relationships. The MBTI personality test
is a tool for self evaluation and awareness of one’s strengths and
weaknesses. It can help us understand
why we think, act, and react the way we do.
The psychological types evaluated in the MBTI personality test
include: extraversion versus
introversion, sensing versus intuition, thinking versus feeling, and judging
versus perceiving. The test indicates
the differences in personality for gaining energy, becoming aware of
information, making decisions, and dealing with the world (Roussel, 2013, p.486). These differences can lead to strengths in
weaknesses in providing patient care and functioning as a nurse.
A nurse leader must understand their personality types as well
as those of the team. This allows for a
nurse leader to be a more effective leader, especially in high stress
situations, based on the combination of specific personality traits. So the question remains, do certain
personality types make better nurses?
The following personality types (based on results using the MBTI tool)
are thought to be compatible with the nursing career:
ESFJ (Extrovert, Sensing, Feeling, Judgement) = “the Supporter”
ISFJ (Introvert, Sensing, Feeling, Judgement) = “the Defender”
ISFP (Introvert, Sensing, Feeling, Perception) = “the Artist”
ENFJ (Extrovert, Intuition, Feeling, Judgement) = “the Mentor”
ENFP (Extrovert, Intuition, Feeling, Perception) = “the
Advocate.” (My Personality Info, 2013).
The personality type ESTJ (Extrovert, Sensing, Thinking, Judgment)
is typically good for nurse administration career paths (My Personality Info,
2013). Introvert versus extrovert, sensing
versus intuition, and judgment versus perception are equally represented as
personality traits recommended for nurses.
While different combinations of these characteristics comprise a
personality type recommended for nurses, thinking versus feeling were not
equally represented. Nurses (aside from
the nurse administrator personality) rate higher for feeling than
thinking.
The thinking versus feeling component affects decision
making. Thinking versus feeling
represents whether logic and consistency or people and circumstances affect
decision making. Nursing is a job of
providing care for people and their circumstances. Care must be provided logically, but is
individualized based on the patient. Personal
care is a factor in decision making more often than logical care. The personality career recommendation results
of My Personality Info (2013) suggests that feeling plays a stronger role than
thinking on the personality and decision making of a nurse.
The relationship between personality trends and career paths
offers an interesting opportunity for us to explore what brought us to the
career path we chose. While nurses come
in all shapes, sizes, and personalities, there may be reoccurring trends in personality.
Understanding self and others provides
leaders with tools to effectively lead by building strong working
relationships. By better understanding
what drives nurses to do the job they do, nurse managers and leaders are able
to better understand how to support their staff to thrive in their environment. The success of the manager to develop and
lead the team can translate into greater success for the organization.
References
My Personality Info (2013). My Personality Info.
Retrieved September 12, 2013, from http://www.mypersonality.info/personality-types/careers/
Roussel, L. (Ed.).
(2013). Management and leadership for
nurse administrators (6th ed.). Burlington, MA: Jones & Bartlett
Learning.
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