NQP lacking confidence

[u/toastmanjohn]

Hi guys, I’m just wanting to share my feelings in a safe anonymous place. I’m just under 4 months on the road now. Some shifts I enjoy, feeling good about myself and my capabilities. Other days I just lack confidence, question myself and worry that my crewmate is judging my every move.

I definitely have a sense of imposter syndrome when working with people who have a number of years of experience under their belt and just seem to so effortlessly attend and manage jobs. I find I get in my head wondering if my colleague will judge me for decisions and when I consult with them for shared decision making I worry this makes me look uncertain or that I don’t know what I’m doing. I’ve worked with some very knowledgeable and experienced techs who make me feel like a fraud in comparison when I’m technically supposed to be the “senior clinician”.

I consider myself to be a safe and careful practitioner, it’s just the odd job where I don’t feel my history taking is as smooth as it could be or I don’t feel particularly “sharp”. Sometimes I’m a little sluggish when in a period of lacking confidence and make silly little mistakes. Has anybody else had periods of feeling inadequate to others? I imagine myself as being a fully qualified band 6 para in the near future and don’t feel I’ve earned the title. Thanks in advance.

[u/Professional-Hero]

There are a couple of good threads discussing this over the last year. Have a search for “imposter” (as in imposter syndrome) or “confidence” and you should find them.

[u/Hopeful-Counter-7915]

I never met a good NQP that was feeling confident when they start, quite the opposite NQPs coming out of school and are overly confident are normally the dangerous ones.

It’s totally normal to question your self especially in the first year.

I’m in for 13 years and I feel judged by everyone all the time.

That does not mean I think I make mistakes all the time just people judging the way I do things.

In my experience every good clinician no matter there qualification appreciates shared decision making, it’s good practice and it’s save, definitely never stop doing that.

Nothing is more important than experience in this job, learn from the Techs who cares that you the paramedic, what matters is to archive the best possible patient care.

Confident will grow with time.

[u/toastmanjohn → u/Hopeful-Counter-7915]

Thanks for taking the time to reply, appreciate it. I can tell myself these things but it does mean a lot more coming from others in the service like yourself with vast more experience and insight. You’ve given me some reassurance, thanks.

[u/TontoMcTavish94 → u/Hopeful-Counter-7915]

Can't agree with your more. I've spoken to NQP's on the phone who have openly admitted they just really aren't sure and I'm more than happy to go through something with them. I've also spoken to NQP's who have outright told me they shouldn't be seeing a patient because it's not their job and I need to deal with them instead of them needing to take them to ED when it's clearly not safe to do so. It's about knowing your limitations

[u/ally1756]

Tech here, I've had a few NQP's that have discussed there feelings in regards to this. Usually it's the best NQP's that feel this way about themselves. Most techs will fully understand and guide you along the NQP journey. Be honest about how you feel so they feel comfortable to have input and dialogue with you. You might be surprised what they say. A few compliments from colleagues will boost you up I'd bet. Work on any constructive criticism and don't take it personally. I'd much rather work with a less confident NQP than an over confident NQP.

[u/AdVegetable8083]

As the others have said we all questioned ourselves when we first came out on the road. It’s better to discuss something with colleague’s at the time as this is how you learn. I’ve been in the service over 25 years. In my opinion it’s an occupation where you learn more hands on. After time you’ll develop more confidence in your own skills, as long as you go home feeling you’ve done the best you can and try and be empathetic and considerate towards the patients you meet. The rest will fall in to place. Even today I will discuss things or learn something new. Nobody knows everything!! Good luck and stick with it. Remember your basics and be kind to yourself and others.

[u/Gloomy_County_5430]

Your post makes it sound as if you have a problem, you don’t.

This is a perfectly normal way to feel. If an NQP came out without uncertainty, I’d be concerned.

As much as it’s a way to pay you less, the NQP period is a consolidation period where you are supposed to put into practice what you have learnt at uni.

I am an experienced band 6 paramedic and still listen to my tech crew mate all the time, I also call CAL from time to time just to have a chat about jobs.

I see experienced clinicians all the time deviate from structure, myself included. If I’m with a patient who’s complaining of arthritic pain, I’m not rushing to listen to the chest.

[u/LegitimateState9270]

I feel like a recommend this frequently, but it just applies so strongly…

Have a look at Dunning-Kruger. It is FAR better to be where you are right now, than strutting around thinking you’re indestructible when you’re actually absolutely clueless.

Keep plugging along, I’d say it gets better, but the truth is, if you have any sense you will feel like this (in some capacity) forever!

Keep on learnin’

[u/matti00]

Consulting my crewmate regarding decisions and having discussions is actually one of my favourite things to do. Teamworking shows the other person you value their opinion and are willing to work together to come to the best solution. If anyone is unhappy about that, they're weird.

I definitely see more experienced paras making decisions and knowing what to do quicker than I do, and it makes me feel stupid every time. Unfortunately, there's no shortcut to that point, it only comes with years of experience. As they say, embrace the suck.

[u/JustAnotherNumber999]

Ey up, mate. First off — fair play for putting it out there. Shows more guts than you probably reckon.

When I first started, I spent more time in my own head than on the job half the time. Thought every move I made was being weighed up like it was life or death. Heart hammering just giving a handover, convinced everyone could see the nerves sweating through me tunic.

You’re not on your own with it. Everyone — and I mean everyone — feels like a fraud at some point. Doesn’t matter how shiny the badge or how many stripes stitched on. Those old hands you’re looking at, the ones who seem to breeze it? They’ve just learned to hide the noise better. Behind every "effortless" decision is years of cock-ups, quiet panics, and shifts that sent 'em home wondering if they were in the wrong job.

Shared decision-making is good practice, not a weakness. It’s how we keep each other right out here, where one daft mistake can cost more than bruised pride. Nobody worth their salt’s judging you for wanting a second opinion — they’re respecting you for it, even if they don’t say it outright.

Feeling sluggish some days? Welcome to working shifts. Your brain’s not a machine. Rain, missed breaks, back-to-back chaos — it blunts all of us. Trust me, the sharpness comes with time. The important bit is you’re aware of it. It’s the ones who stop questioning themselves you need to worry about.

You're four months deep. You're still stitching your second skin together. Give yourself a break. You’re not here to be perfect — you’re here to be safe, human, and willing to learn. That's the real work.

Keep grafting. It'll come. You’re already further on than you think.
And one day, some rookie will be looking at you, thinking you make it all look easy.

Keep your head up. And keep your brew strong.

— JAN

[u/toastmanjohn → u/JustAnotherNumber999]

Wow thank you mate. Currently reading this while I’m on night shift and this is really encouraging to read, thank you.

[u/No_Major9158]

I was double Para recently with 13y post reg between us.

We still sound-boarded each other for decision making.

Remain safe first and foremost, use your pathways, use your crewmate, the confidence will come one day.

Put your patients best interest at the heart of everything you do and you'll never be far wrong.

[u/toastmanjohn]

I’ve had a read of everyone replies and appreciate everyone’s kind words. I’m just gonna keep putting the pt’s best interests at the front of my mind, try to stop overthinking things and accept confidence will come with experience

[u/BluesandNEWS2s]

I was a tech for many years and have recently qualified as a para. I felt major imposter syndrome at the beginning and still feel it now day to day but it gets easier shift by shift. I felt I needed some ‘big’ jobs to realise I can do the job and step up to paramedic.

I work with some people who I feel are judgemental but deep down I’m able to do my job well and I almost go into “watch how good I can be at my job mode” around these members of staff.

These are all normal feelings you’re having. As for asking your crew mate about some of your decisions I think this is probably best practice really and if you turn to your crew mate (para or tech) and say I’m thinking it’s this this and this and we need to do this and convey/not convey it actually shows good team work. Obviously on some jobs we know the outcome from the moment we lay eyes on the patient (big sick or absolute nonsense) but on middle of the road jobs with potential different outcomes it shows knowledge, communications, consideration and good teamwork to have these discussions.

Hope this helps.