Nurses and the pursuit of being perfect

If you have ever seen Wayne's World, you may recall a scene the movie where Wayne and Garth are invited by Alice Cooper to "stick around" and hang out. After responding with supposed nonchalance, they fall on their knees and start bowing over and over, saying in unison, "We're not worthy! We're not worthy! We're not worthy!  We're scum. We suck!"

In the RN Student Connection, I recently read a message from a student that reminded me of this infamous expression from Wayne's World...we're not worthy!  From the tone of this student's message, it was obvious that she was overwhelmed as she prepared for NCLEX.  And although it's normal to be stressed about the NCLEX, she also wrote that she lacked confidence and was certain she was going to fail. It almost seemed as if she didn't feel worthy of taking the exam in the first place.

On a positive note, it was so great how other students wrote back to her, offering support and encouragement. This is exactly what we hoped would happen on the Web site. But what really stuck with me were her claims of feeling unworthy and her fear of failure.

Ever felt like an imposter?

I did a little research and found out that this student certainly isn't alone. In a recent study, nursing students were identified as having high rates of the personality trait called "imposter feelings." This is when individuals question their abilities and report feeling like they are... imposters.

I find this so interesting, especially given the fact that when you are accepted into a nursing program, you are identified as being among the best and the brightest students on campus. So where does this disconnect come from and why do we sell ourselves short? 

Perhaps, it's because we are trying so hard to be perfect!

The pitfalls of perfectionism

In the same study mentioned above, nursing students were also identified as being "perfectionists." On the one hand, if the desire to be perfect can motivate us to work hard and set high personal and professional standards, it can't be all bad. And, nursing is a line of work where making mistakes can have fatal outcomes. Yet, perfectionism can also harm performance and undermine success. In fact, perfectionists:

• Are afraid to try new things because they fear they may fail
• Set goals and standards for themselves that are impossible to meet
• Expect too much from others
• Are unhappy with themselves for not being able to meet their (unattainable) goals

Moving beyond perfectionism

There are all sorts of theories about how perfectionists are created.  And, of course, I think our educational system reinforces this personality trait by forcing perspective nursing students, either explicitly or implicitly, to retake prerequisite courses until they get an A so that they have a greater chance of getting into nursing school.

So the question is...

What can be done to help nursing students enjoy what they are doing and feel good about what they are learning? How can they develop more confidence in their abilities?

How can nurses and students become individuals who are able to move beyond their desire to be "perfect," while excelling in their chosen career?

Now it's your turn!

Do you ever feel like an imposter?

Are you a perfectionist? Psychology Today has a 44 question Perfectionism Test that can help you answer this question (or confirm your suspicions!)

What can be done to help you and others feel worthy?