The Impostor Phenomenon, you might have this like I do...

emtb2rn, BSN, RN, EMT-B · Jun 16, 2006

Interesting and not just restricted to new NPs and women. I'm familiar with that sensation as a guy too. I've felt like an impostor following new certifications pre-hospital as well as in my former corporate life. I agree that it is a temporary feeling that goes away as you gain experience. My personal mantra in situations where I feel overwhelmed is "Oh hell, you know how to do this!" coupled with the philosophy of "right, wrong or indifferent, do it with confidence." aka "don't let 'em see you sweat".

As a side note, I'm heavily involved in ski patrol (at a very busy mountain with high trauma volumes) and teach OEC (Outdoor Emergency Care) to new patrollers. I have noticed many of our new female patrollers seem to suffer a lack self-confidence just after they pass all the tests and earn their jackets. Without exception, this passes rather quickly with experience, which is why I push them to get as many calls as possible once they're cleared.

SaraO'Hara · Jun 16, 2006

That's exactly it. I feel like a kid on Halloween every morning I walk into work. It feels very odd to me because I'm young, but have a "responsible" job... and I wear a white dress Sometimes it just feels like I'm dressing up as Cherry Ames for my own amusement.

HyperRNRachel · Jun 16, 2006

Great article, thanks for posting it.

SmilingBluEyes · Jun 16, 2006

Great article!

In the future, please limit your printing of articles to only one or two paragraphs and then reference and/or cite the rest. Our terms of service prohibit the copying/reproducing of any article from another resource or source in its entirety.

Thanks for understanding!

ails · Jun 16, 2006

Thanks very much for the remider, I've edited my post already. ^_^'

ICRN2008, BSN, RN · Jun 16, 2006

Wow, I really enjoyed this article and can certainly relate. I am going to print it and share it with some of my classmates. Great article!

SmilingBluEyes · Jun 16, 2006

Thank you!

Faeriewand, ASN, RN · Jun 16, 2006

but now you have to register to get to the article. Posting at least one paragraph will at least give us an idea of what the article is about and if we really want to go to the link and take the time to register yaddah yaddah :)

Editorial Team / Admin · Jun 16, 2006

The registration is free. Here is a tag line:

Nurse practitioner (NP) graduates often express feelings of being an "impostor" or "fake" as they move from the role of student to professional NPs. The purpose of this paper is to define the impostor phenomenon (IP) as it relates to the NP role and to discuss the challenges faced by new graduates during this transitional period. Strategies for managing these feelings of inadequacy will also be addressed.