In any high-stress working environment, there’s the potential to miss things, make mistakes and second guess decisions made. As a nurse – especially a new one – overcoming self-doubt is something you need to achieve to thrive in your role. Having confidence in yourself and your abilities is crucial, as well as gaining the trust of those around you.

If you’re constantly feeling weighed down by doubt or worries, it’s important to note that you’re not alone and can come out the other side! Here are some tips on how to overcome self-doubt as a nurse.

A classic case of imposter syndrome

Imposter syndrome is quite common in new nurses and even some experienced nurses. It’s loosely defined as doubting your abilities and feeling like a fraud. Many who have graduated from university feel as though when they are in ‘the real world’ that they aren’t qualified or deserving of the job title and the responsibilities that come with it.

Nurse Molly Phoebe says “I had periods of self-doubt as a student nurse because you are constantly under the supervision of another nurse. I would sometimes wonder if I was doing the right things each day or if I would be able to cope without my supervising nurse.”

Doubts like this are common. Are they competent enough to look after patients on their own? Administer medication? Take diligent notes? These are all questions that might present themselves to nurses. However, having trust in your abilities and repeating tasks will grow your confidence. So, how can you do this?

Strategies to help

Overcoming self-doubt as a nurse can feel tough, but it’s not impossible! There are so many ways you can train your brain to overcome its initial nervousness and doubts.

Ask questions – Many of us are often too nervous to speak up and ask questions in fear that we might sound silly or incompetent. In a job role where sometimes, the smallest decision can be a life-or-death choice, it’s important to speak up. If you have a question, there’s a good chance someone else has the same question. There’s no harm in asking for clarity on something – you can even try saying “I think that this means xxx, but I just wanted to clarify with you.” This shows you’re offering a solution or have put some thought into your question. If you have multiple questions about a task, you can also collate these and ask in one hit to avoid asking multiple at different times. Remember – it’s better to be safe than sorry!

Ask for feedback – Don’t be afraid to ask for feedback. Feedback and constructive criticism will only help you improve in your role. You may receive feedback on a strength you didn’t even realise you had, or constructive feedback in an area you thought you were doing well at. People often view feedback in a negative light, however, it’s a positive thing. Feedback helps us to grow and improve our skills. “It also helped me to contact someone from the education department from either the hospital or university as they always reassured me that I was doing the right things and was on track,” Molly said.

Don’t be too hard on yourself – With self-doubt comes negative feelings. While it’s easier said than done, try not to be too hard on yourself. Take time to write down the details of the smooth days or anything that made those marathon shifts a little easier. Writing down funny stories or compliments patients have given you will help you on those days where you feel as though you’re struggling. If you do find you’re being too hard on yourself, take some time to invest in self-care to look after yourself.

Reflecting and learning from your mistakes – Everyone makes mistakes – you wouldn’t be human if you didn’t mess up from time to time! When you do make a mistake, try not to beat yourself up about it. Reflect on what you did wrong and how it occurred, so you know for next time. If you’re struggling to understand how it happened or where things went wrong, don’t be afraid to ask. There’ll be someone willing to help you out with where you went wrong and what you can do differently next time.

Stop comparing yourself to others – While there might be others you work with who seem more confident than you, you mustn’t compare yourself. Everyone moves at their own pace and comparing yourself to someone else is only going to make you feel worse. If you’re comparing yourself to a more experienced nurse, ask yourself if it’s a fair comparison to compare yourself as a new nurse to someone who has years of experience. Besides, just because they appear confident doesn’t mean they aren’t having the same thoughts as you go through their head. If you feel comfortable, tell them how you feel and ask for any advice.

Talk about how you feel – Many of us choose to bottle up our emotions when in reality, this only makes the problem worse. If you are feeling anxious, make sure you talk to someone about how you feel. Whether that’s a friend, family member or colleague, getting what you’re worried about off your chest will help relieve feelings of stress and anxiety, and they may even be able to offer you a solution to your problem. If you find this isn’t enough, services like Lifeline and Beyond Blue are available 24/7 to talk.

Take note of your strengths – All too often, we focus on the negatives of things we might not be doing too well, rather than looking at the positives of all the great things we’re doing. Overcoming self-doubt can start with taking notes of all your strengths. What are the things (whether you like it or not) that you’re good at? In what areas or situations do you excel? What are some of the major successes you’ve had in the past? Shifting your focus onto these things can help put you into a more positive mindset when you are having periods of doubt.

Overcoming self-doubt as a nurse can feel challenging, however, it’s not impossible to do. Seeking support and guidance from those around you as well as asking for help when you need it is important to overcome doubt and excel in your career. We also think a pair of Biz Care scrubs will help you feel confident too!