Exploring the experiences of imposter phenomenon among Chinese ICU nurses: a qualitative study

The high intensity and complexity of ICU nursing subjects practitioners to significantly greater occupational stress and burnout risks than those working in general wards. Burnout directly impacts nursing quality and is closely linked to the imposter phenomenon. This latter factor is a significant contributor to burnout and may exacerbate its severity. Therefore, it is crucial to gain a thorough understanding of how the imposter phenomenon develops and manifests among ICU nurses in order to stabilize their career trajectories and enhance their professional well-being.

This study aimed to explore ICU nurses' experiences of imposter phenomenon, providing a reference for the development of relevant future intervention strategies.

We employed a phenomenological study design and collected data. Using purposive sampling combined with snowball sampling, 15 ICU nurses from a tertiary general hospital were selected for semi-structured interviews from June to July 2025. The Colaizzi seven-step analysis method was utilized, and the NVivo 12.0 software was used for data processing.

This study identified three main themes and eight sub-themes: multiple causative factors (insufficient professional knowledge and experience, comparison with colleagues, authority effect, overloaded responsibilities, collective culture), negative emotional experiences, and diverse coping strategies (social support, cognitive restructuring, self-regulation).

The etiology of impostor syndrome among ICU nurses is complex and multifaceted, yet targeted support systems remain inadequate. Nursing managers should prioritize this issue and establish a systematic, multifaceted support framework to promote the occupational well-being of nurses.