Introverts have very specific interests and preferences, so their hobbies and reading habits are very different compared to those of ambiverts and extroverts. However, your personality will have a much greater impact on your life than just influencing your hobbies and friendships.
A study conducted by the University College of London surveyed over 200 candidates to learn what were the key factors affecting motivation and job satisfaction. They found that personality accounted for as much as 13% of job satisfaction.
It’s obvious that if a position involves customer service, group interaction or public speaking, introverts will likely find it exhausting. On the other hand, introverts are compassionate, quiet souls, so a job in a garden, library or hospital would suit them well.
Nursing and healthcare are two areas which greatly appeal to introverts. They like taking care of people, and working in healthcare is also excellent because you know you’re working directly to help people and make the world a slightly better place. Introverts don’t always want to be in the spotlight – working quietly in the background is perfect for them.
In this article, we’ll discuss healthcare jobs for introverts – why they’re perfect, what particular jobs are the best, and what jobs may not be ideal.
Introverts and healthcare – what’s the link?
Introverts generally don’t like interacting with people. Even if the people in question are close friends or loved ones, social interaction saps them of energy and they need to spend time alone to make up for it.
Because of this, they can be a bit choosy when it comes to work. An introvert may not feel comfortable working as a bartender or a cashier in a busy store, for example. Healthcare is a field they’re often interested in, because it pays well and doesn’t usually require socialization.
There are exceptions, of course – in a children’s hospital, the employees and doctors are generally upbeat and friendly to keep the kids in good spirits. Other positions, such as a nurse, may call for people interaction (although it’s not a strict requirement – a quiet nurse who does what’s needed is perfectly fine).
Whether you’re an introvert who’s always wanted to work in healthcare, or just someone looking for advice on which field to enter, we’re here to guide you. Next, we’ll discuss which particular jobs are the best for introverts.
The best nursing jobs for introverts
Nursing, some would think, is not ideal for introverts. Nurses have to deal with many, many people – scared patients, worried family members, rude people who disregard the rules, and hospital staff. On one hand, that’s completely true. If the prospect of talking to people freaks you out, nursing isn’t for you.
However, on the other hand, nursing isn’t quite the sort of thing introverts would find problematic. That’s because social interaction is different from professional interaction. Another thing which makes nursing different is that you need to say the same things over and over – which makes it less like talking and more like…well, saying.
If you really think you wouldn’t be comfortable with interaction and want to try being a nurse, that’s still possible. Nobody minds a quiet nurse, as long as they do what’s needed. If you have what it takes to be a good nurse, you’re all set.
The ideal nursing job would be in a hospital or healthcare institution that doesn’t require too much interaction. Different places have different policies, so try to find a workplace that suits your personality better.
Another good idea would be to work as a nurse in an institution with few, long-term residents (or patients). So for example, maybe an old age home? You would be meeting and talking to the same people every day, which would help you form a bond with them.
Other healthcare jobs for introverts
What other jobs might introverts like? There’s a lot more to healthcare than doctors and nurses. The doctor may be the star of the show, but there are many other people – accountants, billers, clerks, managers – who work behind the scene to keep hospitals running smoothly. These jobs are generally quiet and repetitive, and so should be ideal for introverts. Here are some of our favorites:
1. Medical clerk
Usually people like to go for the highest-paying job possible and we don’t necessarily think they’re wrong to do so, but we always say pay isn’t everything. With a high payout you’ll find high stress and big responsibilities. If something simpler pays the bills and gives you time to clear your mind and enjoy life, then we say go for it.
Working as a medical clerk will be easy and simple, giving you plenty of time to explore your thoughts and let your mind wander. In some ways, that’s a privilege – doctors and scientists couldn’t dream of letting their mind wander while at work.
Medical clerks are responsible for preparing patient charts, filing paperwork and reports, gathering documents, etc. Fairly repetitive, simple work. They earn around $30,000 per year.
2. Medical transcriptionist
Of the many available healthcare jobs for introverts, this one is perhaps the least stressful. You’d be transcribing conversations between a doctor and their patient so it can be filed away for future reference. The job is repetitive, requires no social interaction whatsoever, and it can be quite nice if you have a decent keyboard and a good typing speed.
Transcribers don’t earn little either – they usually make around $30,000 per year, which is pretty neat considering it’s a low-stress job which allows you to lead a simple life.
3. Health informatics
If you’re in health informatics, you’d be working behind the scenes, collecting and analyzing data to help improve patient experience and public health. This is a highly important field, because you’d be responsible for finding out what the institution can do to make its processes better, and to help patients further. You’d find out what’s good and what’s bad, and report your findings to medical professionals who will act on this information.
The job is great for people who have a gift for analyzing numbers and trends, and pays a little more than the last two on our list. Professionals in health informatics make, on average, around $62,000 per year.
4. Doctor
You could, of course, be a doctor! You’d have to ask patients questions and examine them, but the line between social and professional communication is solid for doctors. The sort of conversations you’d be having wouldn’t tire you or make you feel awkward.
If you’re passionate about helping people and know which type of doctor you want to be, give it a shot. There’s a lot of study involved and you’ll probably have to take a large student loan – so do your research well in advance so you’re prepared for it when the time is right.
5. Surgeon
Surprisingly, introverts often like being surgeons. The work requires extreme concentration for extended periods of time, working in a quiet environment, doing high-stress and high-risk operations, and college is absolutely brutal. The financial aspect, of course, is similarly dramatic – tuition is incredibly expensive, but you’ll earn a lot once you finish school and become a surgeon.
Whether you’re in the healthcare field or in plastic surgery, working as a surgeon can be both exciting and rewarding. You could do transplants and create artificial limbs for the disabled. It’s an area in which you get to change people’s lives. It is of course stressful – in terms of study, work and finances – but the rewards are clear. Certainly one of the more glamorous healthcare jobs for introverts.
6. Repairing medical equipment
If you have a technical bent of mind and feel in your element among machines and advanced equipment, this job is perfect for you! You’d be working quietly, without noisy coworkers or henpecking bosses, and the job involves zero patient interaction.
You’d be responsible for fixing stuff like CAT scanners or monitors, and for performing routine maintenance. The job is a little stressful since medical equipment needs special handling and you’d be working on extremely costly machinery, but that’s what makes it exciting!
Another great thing about this job is that it’s in high demand – and the demand is expected to grow in the next couple years. The median salary for medical equipment repairers is $44,180 per year.
Conclusion
This was our list of healthcare jobs for introverts. However, sometimes you may find that things take you out of your comfort zone – life often does. Don’t be deterred by it! Always be prepared to step outside your comfort zone and try new things. It can be scary at first, but it’ll help you grow as a person.
It’s a good idea to research things carefully before making any important decisions so you’re forewarned, but the funny thing about us humans is that we’re ridiculously adaptable. We change, we adapt, we experiment. So go out and get the job of your dreams!
If you find you need to become more extroverted to flourish at work – whether it’s to eliminate awkwardness, make the job more fun, or if the workplace rewards extroverted behavior – check out our guide on the subject. In it we’ve listed ways to enhance your existing extroverted qualities, and how to develop new ones.
Have any other questions about life as an introvert? Email them to us! We’re always on the lookout for interesting topics to cover, and we’d love to help you with your questions.
