To feel like an imposter at work?

[Penguin81]

I am a mental health nurse, qualified for 7 years.
I constantly feel that i dont know enough, and seek advice from others in situations, as not confident in my abilities or knowledge. I have a hard time retaining information, and often worry I will be exposed as a fraud
does anybody else feel this way? would hate to give up nursing, but still feel the responsibility is beyond my capabilities

OP, do you have any mentoring scheme at work? It takes time to develop confidence to admit you don't always know the answer

Yes feel the same. Though I have recently been promoted into a very senior position and am really struggling, so probably am an imposter. I dread most important meetings and have low confidence in myself and my ability

Imposter syndrome is soooo common. Especially mental health nursing I'm sure must be so many variables you could do it for a whole 50 years and never know it all.

My team had a talk from a very successful, confident and highly regarded politician recently and even he said he felt it.

He said it was quite right to feel it.. because of his background and how politics is structured he isn't meant to be there. So worth looking at your organisation and colleagues. Women, working class people, people of colour are often places where someone has told them or implied they shouldn't really be. It's nonsense of course but worth thinking about whether any of that applies.

I get it big time when I get offered a new job, to the point I think they must have misread my application! But it goes pretty quickly for me. I don't necessarily recognise my competence though and over estimate that of others.

Good luck!

It’s not uncommon. I’m 10 years qualified, senior position in the firm and head of team. I still get anxious when the phone rings in case I make a hash of whatever someone is about to ask me. I often walk out of meetings amazed that people have taken notes about things I’ve said. I think I’m doing myself a disservice, but I do feel like I’m ‘winging it’ half the term and that a real grown up will come in and take charge shortly.
I think it’s to do with confidence. Some days, I have absolute conviction in everything I do. Other days, I can barely put a decent sentence together it seems.
I don’t know what the answer is, but you sound like you have great skills to me!

Thought this was about the Tory party

I think it's depressingly common. I feel like a total fraud most days, constantly afraid that my boss is going to find out that I don't know what I'm doing and resent me for tricking him into hiring me! I know I'm my own worst enemy and that he has a higher opinion of me than I do of myself, but I can't help it. I've got to the stage recently where I'm scared to answer the phone to him because he might be calling to tell me I've cocked something up and made him look bad. I'm sorry I can't offer any practical advice, but it's a tiny bit reassuring to know you're not alone and not going mad.

I guess it depends though. You can get some pretty awful nurses who have somehow got, and retained their pin. I'm sure you are a great nurse OP, however what does your PADR's state? Do you have regular supervision? If so what opinions of your work do get in feedback from this? Have you managed to work up the bandings or have other less qualified people been promoted above you? Do you have any evidence of positive feedback from patients or their families?

I've been doing my job for 17 years and I feel like this every day. I've held myself back from so many opportunities because I really don't think I'm good enough to take them on.

Thank you for all your comments, and sorry to hear about others who are struggling
if never say anything at work, partly because I'd be embarrassed to open up so much, and partly because they may think I'm right of I point it out to them
I hate meetings, speaking etc, my mind tends to go blank..I have anxiety medication which helps a little.
I'm sure people can tell when I'm handing information over that something is not right..I try to hide it the best I can, but its obvious im on edge..am generally so relaxed outside of work too!

#penguin have you ever tried therapy of any sort? Imposter Syndrome is real!

I'm a mh nurse with imposter syndrome and feel the way you do

I know (some) men do feel the same way, but don't talk about it.

@Penguin81 I've just found this thread as I'm sitting here in tears due to my own massive anxiety around work and imposter syndrome. I have been trying to change career for about 3/4 years because of it, but I have no idea what to try and do instead. I do something that requires you to be very good at a particular thing and the voice inside my head is constantly ridiculing me, saying 'but you're clearly crap at this thing so why the hell do you think you can speak with any authority on it?!' It is absolutely crippling and gets me down so much. I am educated to masters level in this subject as well as having reached the highest level of qualification in related subjects, yet STILL I can't have confidence that I am good at it.

I've just been emailing counsellors in my area to try and get some help, because if I'm going to keep doing this for the next 30 years then I can't afford to keep feeling like this or my mental health is going to deteriorate completely.

I don't have any advice at all but just to say you are not alone and I really sympathise.