Published July 17, 2023
Overcoming Imposter Syndrome as an Early-Career NP or PA
How often have you thought, “Maybe I’m not cut out to be a nurse practitioner or physician assistant?” Ask any experienced NP or PA and they’ll likely tell you they had these kinds of thoughts regularly when they entered practice. It’s a natural reaction – you go from the classroom, where you have a professor or preceptor telling you what to do, to being the one calling the shots. But the good news? These same clinicians are succeeding years into their careers, which proves that you can too.
What is Imposter Syndrome?
Imposter syndrome is defined by Merriam-Webster as “a psychological condition that is characterized by persistent doubt concerning one's abilities or accomplishments, accompanied by the fear of being exposed as a fraud despite evidence of one's ongoing success.” Despite the prevalence of the syndrome and its psychological impact, it is not recognized as an official psychological diagnosis in the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, nor is it included in the International Classification of Disease or ICD-10. According to a review article published in the International Journal of Behavioral Science, approximately 70% of people will experience imposter syndrome at some point in their life.
In a recent episode of Frankly Speaking About Family Medicine, Frank Domino, MD is joined by Susan Feeney, DNP, FNP-BC, NP-C, Jill M. Terrien PhD, ANP-BC, and Mariyan L. Montaque, DNP, FNP-BC to discuss imposter syndrome. Listen to the full episode here.
Strategies to Overcome Imposter Syndrome as an NP or PA
Correctly Identify Feelings
When you start feeling insecure, remember that this is the imposter syndrome talking and reflect on your feelings. Ask yourself if your feelings of insecurity are justified in the situation or if you’re letting imposter syndrome control your reactions.
Connect with a Mentor
Mentorship is a great support tool that can help you navigate challenges and grow as a clinician. Connecting with a clinician who has faced the same challenges you are trying to overcome can help you work through roadblocks and remind you of your skills and qualifications. It’s important to note that when entering a mentorship relationship, you also must be open to receiving honest feedback that will help you grow as a clinician.
Focus on Learning
It can be devastating when a mistake in patient care is made. It is important to frame challenging situations as an opportunity to learn from the mistake and implement changes moving forward to prevent it from reoccurring.
Reflect on Your Achievements
It’s great to be your own cheerleader and reflect on your achievements and strengths. Keeping this positivity in the forefront can change your mind set for the better and help you navigate tough situations. Over time, you will develop a collection of positive feedback, whether it's from patients, peers, or managers. Keep these reflections in a box and read them when you need that extra reminder that you can do this.
HELPFUL TIP: Create a “love me file,” a place where you keep positive feedback that you can reflect on when you have a trying day. Learn more about the power of reflecting on positive feedback in the video below.
Stay Up to Date
Evidence-based medicine is constantly changing and it’s imperative that you stay up to date on the latest guidelines and recommendations. Know how to find this information, such as through completing accredited CME/CE coursework or utilizing web-based resources at your institution’s library.
We've all experienced times when something bad happened and we second-guessed our decisions. Don't let that break you. Using the strategies outlined above, you can get through it and not fall into the imposter syndrome trap.
To learn more about navigating the challenges you might face as a nurse practitioner or physician assistant early in your career, check out Primary Care Bootcamp for NPs and PAs.
Danielle Hebert is a member of the faculty of Pri-Med’s Primary Care Bootcamp for NPs and PAs. She has been in the nursing field for 26 years, completing her nursing degree at Fitchburg State University and working as a visiting nurse for 10 years before receiving her MSN from UMass Medical School Graduate School of Nursing and then her DNP from UMass Boston. She has 16 years of experience in primary care, working as a panel managing primary care provider as well as holding leadership positions, including Associate Site Chief for Internal Medicine as well as Co-Administrator of Advanced Practice and Development. She held several adjunct roles for both MSN and DNP programs before deciding to transition to academia full-time.
She is currently an Assistant Professor and Coordinator of the Adult-Gerontology Primary Care Nurse Practitioner Track at UMass Chan Medical School Tan Chingfen Graduate School of Nursing. She continues to practice in primary care one day per week as a per diem float, providing both acute and chronic patient care management. In her free time, she enjoys visiting the White Mountains with her family, time with her family and dogs at home, and crocheting baby items to donate to the local hospital nursery.