Imposter Syndrome
Content Warning: This article talks about mental health and self-worth
I have a lot of fears, spoken and unspoken.
One of the fears I struggle with the most is never being enough. This feeling of not enough is more than a fear of not feeling adequate or not living up to others’ expectations. Instead, this feeling makes me question my accomplishments; I feel fraudulent and that if someone simply looked under the thin cover of my skin, they could see my inadequacy. I struggle with self-doubt and attribute my success to luck or other external factors rather than my abilities. I graduated nursing school due to sheer luck, my family, my husband, who spent many late nights quizzing me for my exams, and my teachers, who showed me grace when I stumbled; it had nothing to do with my intelligence, drive, or persistence. I got my first hospital job because of a recommendation from a professor who happened to be a charge nurse, not because of my potential or skills. I got my dream job as a neonatal intensive care unit (NICU) nurse simply because I had somehow tricked the nurse manager into thinking that I was exactly what their unit needed; it was not my passion for the patient population nor my list of qualifications. It was never me; I never achieved anything…I was merely granted the rewards.
Imposter Syndrome
The concept of imposter syndrome (imposter phenomenon) was initially developed by two psychologists in 1978, Pauline Rose Clance and Suzanne Imes, after studying professional and pre-professional women experiencing similar feelings of inadequacy (Burey & Tulshyan, 2022). Clance and Imes defined imposter syndrome as “despite outstanding academic and professional accomplishments, women who experience the imposter phenomenon persist in believing that they are really not bright and have fooled anyone who thinks otherwise”; a more relaxed understanding is doubting your abilities and constantly feeling like a fraud (Burey & Tulshyan, 2022). Within their research, Clance and Imes found imposter syndrome is found more frequently in people who are high-achievers. Clance independently created the “Clance IP Scale” to help individuals see if they had Imposter Phenomenon traits and, if so, to what extent. Results can range from 0 to 80; the higher the score, the more frequently and seriously the Impostor Phenomenon interferes in one’s life (Falcone, 2022). Below, I have included a link to a PDF version of the Clance Imposter Phenomenon Scale (CIPS).
Recent data shows that imposter syndrome is more prevalent in high-achievers, women, and under-represented racial, ethnic, and religious minorities (Chrousos & Mentis, 2020). Imposter syndrome can have significant effects at an individual level, leading to psychological distress, emotional suffering, and severe mental health disorders (i.e., anxiety, depression, chronic dysphoric stress) (Chrousos & Mentis, 2020). This syndrome can manifest in various ways, such as feeling like you do not belong, constantly second-guessing yourself, fearing that others will discover that you are not as competent as they think, or feeling like you are an imposter in your profession or role. These emotions can affect not only the individual but if they are a healthcare professional; it can also impact their ability to provide quality patient care.
Imposter Syndrome in Nurses
Unfortunately, from the start of their journey, nurses are placed into environments that allow imposter syndrome to flourish. Nursing schools set nurses on pathways to struggle with imposter syndrome by constantly creating high-pressure environments paired with steep learning curves, leading to an underlining fear of failure. From this point, nurses can develop imposter syndrome at any point in their careers. Nursing and healthcare careers are unique in their structure. Nurses must learn most skills on the job, with most specialties requiring new information and training. In addition, the healthcare field is ever-changing, with the constant need for continuing education and personal adjustments. On top of all that, nurses work in a career that fosters a culture of burnout where nurses are constantly put in high-stress situations with intimidating and heavy workloads.
Imposter syndrome is treatable; however, seeking help can be difficult for someone because shame is a significant component of imposter syndrome. Admitting to yourself that there is something “wrong” with you is already difficult; to acknowledge to someone else that you have these thoughts can be extremely difficult. The first step is realizing you are not alone. It is important to understand that many people suffer from the same thoughts and doubts. The next step is talking with someone. The primary focus of treatment for imposter syndrome is working with a therapist or counselor, practicing self-compassion, and reframing negative self-talk. “Seeing a therapist or engaging in group therapy will help dispel distorted internal views. Identifying compassionate peers and mentors in school or the workplace and cautiously opening up to them can be a way to gain feedback and perspective (Glover, 2021).” According to Cleveland Clinic (2022), talking to a therapist can help you recognize feelings associated with imposter syndrome and create new behaviors to get past them.
“Action really helps overcome this,” Dr. Albers says. “It is about not getting stuck in the thought of ‘I cannot do this,’ but making sure that you take action and move forward. (Cleveland Clinic, 2022)”
One thing that has made a change in the way I view myself is eliminating negative self-talk. My goal in eliminating negative self-talk is to start viewing myself more positively by addressing my low self-esteem; this is critical for me. I have started to find a middle ground by finding a more realistic self-view with the understanding that imposter syndrome wants me to believe I am incompetent as a nurse, woman, daughter, wife, and general member of society.
Imposter syndrome and self-doubt can be paralyzing, do not deal with it alone.
References
Burey, J. N., & Tulshyan, R. (2022). Stop telling women they have imposter syndrome. Harvard Business Review. https://hbr.org/2021/02/stop-telling-women-they-have-imposter-syndrome
Chrousos, G. P., & Mentis, A.-F. A. (2020). Imposter Syndrome threatens diversity. Science, 367(6479), 749–750. https://doi.org/10.1126/science.aba8039
Cleveland Clinic. (2022, April 4). What's imposter syndrome, and how to overcome it. Mental Health. https://health.clevelandclinic.org/a-psychologist-explains-how-to-deal-with-imposter-syndrome/
Falcone, S. (2022). 3 tips to overcome imposter syndrome as a nurse. Nurse.org. https://nurse.org/articles/nurse-imposter-syndrome/
Glover, E. (2021). Understanding imposter syndrome among nurses: AJN off the charts. American Journal of Nursing. https://ajnoffthecharts.com/understanding-imposter-syndrome-among-nurses/