What are you like?: A personality profile of cancer and palliative care nurses in the United kingdom.

Occupational psychology has long been concerned with the proposed link between personality and occupational success or stress. The role of the cancer and palliative care nurse can be challenging and stressful, and the aim of the current study was to explore the existence of a personality profile for nurses working in this area. For this study, 178 nurses undertaking degree and diploma studies in cancer and palliative care at a specialist palliative care unit in northwest England completed the 16PF personality inventory and a demographic questionnaire. The mean age of these nurses was 38 years, and 95% were women. Approximately half (52%) were staff nurses, and the majority (77%) worked in hospital or community environments. The profile suggested that the nurses were extraverted, empathic, trusting, open, expressive, insightful, and group oriented. They were likely to be cautious when facing new ideas, potentially naïve in dealings with more astute others, and somewhat lacking in objectivity. Positive aspects of the profile suggested that they would thrive in a stressful occupation wherein caring for others and multidisciplinary team working are important. However, less positive elements may affect their ability to be influential members of the multidisciplinary team. The potential for using personality profiling for effective targeting of personnel, education, training, and improvement of self-awareness is explored.