Overcoming Imposter Syndrome in Healthcare

Nursing is a special profession that requires not only extensive knowledge and technical skills but also a great deal of empathy and compassion. Nurses play a vital role in patient care, making their job incredibly challenging and rewarding. However, despite their dedication and hard work, many nurses grapple with imposter syndrome, a psychological phenomenon that can lead to self-doubt and poor performance.

What is Imposter Syndrome?
Imposter syndrome is a psychological experience where someone begins to doubt their abilities and feel like a fraud despite them appearing as a confident and competent person. With a high stress job such as nursing, imposter syndrome can show itself in several ways. Nurses may question their skills or feel inadequate in the face of challenges. They may believe their colleagues are more knowledgeable or better, leading to feelings of inferiority and anxiety.

This self-doubt can hurt your performance and overall well-being. These feelings are extremely common in new nursing graduates, and if it is not addressed, they can follow you through your entire nursing career. Surprisingly, this is the case for many high achievers across a spectrum of professions; though it seems to be even more present among healthcare professionals.

One study found that the occurrence of imposter syndrome among nursing students ranged from 86 percent to 100 percent. While this may seem high, it probably does not come as a surprise to anyone who has completed nursing school.

 Do you think you might have imposter syndrome? Take this test to see if you're facing this common psychological phenomenon. 

Causes of Imposter Syndrome

• High Expectations: The healthcare field often places elevated expectations on workers. Nurses are expected to make critical decisions in life-or-death situations sometimes daily, which can create immense pressure and lead to self-doubt.
• Continuous Learning: Nursing is a fast-paced field that requires continuous learning, and the ability to adapt to frequent changes. As medical knowledge and research evolves, nurses are expected to keep up with the latest information and technologies, which can lead to feelings of inadequacy, or a feeling of being behind.
• Comparing to Peers: As Theodore Roosevelt once said, "Comparison is the thief of joy." In a healthcare environment, it is easy to compare yourself to others around you, especially if you are a travel nurse in a new area or new facility. Nurses may feel that others are more competent, leading them to underestimate their own skills and knowledge. Unfortunately, sometimes these feelings lead to self-fulfilling prophecy, which can affect future career opportunities. 
• Patient Outcomes: The responsibility of patient outcomes can be overwhelming. If a patient's condition worsens despite the healthcare team's best efforts, they may feel a sense of failure, or that they are not good enough, which further contributes to imposter syndrome.

Consequences of Imposter Syndrome

• Burnout: Constant self-doubt and striving for perfection can lead to emotional exhaustion and burnout. These feels can cause nurses to make mistakes, which further fuel the viscous cycle of imposter syndrome.
• Reduced Confidence: Nurses with imposter syndrome lack confidence in their decision-making abilities, which can impact patient care and overall job performance. This could lead to mistakes that harm your chances for career advancement.
• Loss and Pride and Job Satisfaction: Feeling like a fraud can diminish job satisfaction and enthusiasm for the profession. This lack of fulfillment combined with job-related stress can have severe impact on nurses' mental health.
• Hindered Professional Growth: Imposter syndrome can prevent nurses from seeking career advancement opportunities or further education due to a belief that they are not good enough, or that they do not deserve to advance in their careers or receive praise.
  
  

Overcoming Imposter Syndrome
Overcoming imposter syndrome is crucial for healthcare professionals to maintain their well-being and provide the best possible patient care. Here are five strategies to help combat imposter syndrome:

• Self-Reflection. Take time to reflect on  your achievements and the positive impact you've had on patients and on the organization for which you work.

• Seek Support. Don't hesitate to confide in colleagues, mentors, or friends about what you're feeling. Often, sharing your thoughts with others can provide valuable perspective and reassurance. You might also feel less isolated, as your fellow colleagues could be feeling the same way.
• Be a student learner. Embrace the fact that healthcare is an ever-evolving field. Instead of seeing it as a weakness, view the need for continuous learning as as opportunity for personal and professional growth. 

• Set Realistic Expectations. Understand that no one is perfect, and mistakes are part of the learning process. Take comfort in the fact that you are always striving to improve.

• Celebrate Achievements. When you reach a professional milestone or help a patient overcome a difficult injury or illness, take the time to celebrate those successes. Acknowledging your successes (and rewarding yourself for them) can boost self-esteem and help you feel empowered.