Article on imposter phenomenon resonates with nurse.

After reading the October 2007 sidebar "Nurses in Transition May Experience Imposter Phenomenon" (p. 13), I was actually relieved to realize that others had expressed a concern that has followed me over the years, described as an "internal experience of intellectual phoniness." I was not aware of the research, so I am prompted to write regarding my experience with this phenomenon.

I spent almost 15 years in seven clinical positions at a National Cancer Institute Comprehensive Cancer Center in Buffalo, NY, and have held five different positions in the pharmaceutical industry during the past 13 years. While I am excited to begin these new positions, I am always concerned that I will not be able to master the new role.

I remember my first time in the intensive care unit as a new nurse: It took me more than six months to finally go to work without the worry that I was going to make a life-and-death mistake. I underestimated the amount of knowledge that I had gathered along my career path, but I also underestimated the collegiality that occurs and the willingness of seasoned oncology nurses to share their years of experience.

Mary Garlick Roll, RN, MS

Williamsville, NY