Categories: Scrubs

How to make friends in the hospital (and when you leave)

Image: Jupiterimages | Creatas | Getty Images


When we were younger, making friends was easy. School provides us with an instant pool of people our own age that we interact with on a daily basis, who are in the same boat we are. But once we leave nursing school and enter the real world, finding friends can be a more difficult task, especially if you have to relocate for a job.

Whether in or out of the hospital, you are dealing with a myriad of ages, interests and personalities. So how do you sift through it all to find true friends? Here are some tips on how to make it happen.

Make Yourself Accessible

At the Hospital: The workplace can be a hard place to approach people. Conflicting shift schedules and running around after patients makes it hard to interact with your coworkers. Make an effort to show you’re a friendly person. Engage in some friendly hospital banter. Ask coworkers how their weekend was. Any excuse to interact with your colleagues will help show them that you are willing to make the effort to be friends.

Out of the Hospital: When you aren’t working a shift, you don’t have a direct pool of people to interact with. The entire city is a pool of possible friends. The best approach is to simply be approachable. Be friendly. Smile and say hi as people pass. Strike up a conversation in the line at the grocery store or the bank. The friendlier you are, the more people will want to interact with you.

Get out there! –>

Page: 1 2 3 4

Scrubs Contributor

We welcome your ideas and submissions to Scrubs Magazine! Here's how to submit your own story or story idea to our editors.

Recent Posts

Leadership Qualities for Students

When we discuss students, we always mention their qualities. Those qualities show what they are…

12 months ago

A Comprehensive Guide to Dual Diagnosis Treatment Options

If you or someone you know is juggling mental health issues alongside substance abuse, understanding…

12 months ago

How To Take Care Of Your Mental Health While Following The News

For the last couple of weeks, the Israel-Hamas conflict has taken over the news cycle.…

12 months ago

Eyes on the Future: Innovations in Eye Treatment Lenses

Our eyes are invaluable, serving as our windows to the world. The ability to see…

12 months ago

Vision Issues Are on The Rise Among Nurses: Why and What to Do About It

Undoubtedly, one of the most demanding and challenging professions is nursing. Nurses work long hours in…

12 months ago

Echocardiography as a Diagnostic Tool: How Cardiologists Use Echo to Assess Heart Health

Echocardiography, or echo for short, is a key diagnostic test used by cardiologists to assess…

1 year ago