In my 20+ years of working as first a nurse, then a PA, I've definitely been questioned. I've learned that someone else's ego or lack of understanding about my role and experience isn't truly my concern. We cannot take someone else's critique personally. I know the effort I put into my credentials, I know my experience. If questioned, I could share my experience but the physician can choose not to accept it. At this stage of my career, if my medical expertise were questioned, it would not negatively impact me.

First of all these sort of questioning is not unusual. This is why we pay importance to practicing EBM (Evidence Based Medicine) and if we practice EBM, anyone questioning us we just need to quote the Evidence. Secondly incidences like these makes one stronger both academically and confidence wise as we know we are on the right path. There is nothing to fear if we practice what is the accepted norm rather than hearsay treatment options.

You know what you know. From training and experience. But you may not know what you do not know. This applies to those that may challenge your judgment. In the end is it evidence based or areas where experience and wisdom play into the art of medicine. I enjoy being challenged it’s keeps us sharp and engaged

It is not always easy being the target of criticism. However, recovering from professional critiques is crucial. Always bear in mind that: * Constructive feedback is an opportunity for growth. * Continuous learning is essential in the rapidly changing field of medicine. * Building resilience helps professionals cope with criticism. * Maintaining a strong reputation relies on embracing constructive feedback. * High-quality patient care depends on staying up-to-date with best practices. This emphasizes that recovery from professional critiques not only maintains but also enhances one's career as a medical practitioner by fostering personal development through active engagement with peer review & corrective action.

Many here have pointed out correctly that context matters. Self-reflection and critique are key values of a physician. If many question your expertise and they don’t all come from the same coalition of people take it serious. If the critique comes from one person / coalition of people with self-interest in the outcome of such critique, remember pastor C. Lindsey: if you live by the compliment, you’ll die by the criticism.

When my medical expertise is questioned, I do no not get upset or lose confidence. I take it as an opportunity to learn and grow. The person questioning my expertise may be the one who is feeling unsure of his/her knowledge that is why they are questioning what I know. I am sure of what I know, it has taken me years to get where I am in my career. I think about what they have said, and I look back at my work performance/ knowledge and make the necessary changes

Data and Devotion. Has my medical decision making been questioned? Absolutely! But I didn’t make it to the White House as a Medical Officer and U.S. State Department as a Diplomat and Medial Attaché without world class expertise and knowing my limitations. I lead with evidence based medicine, but even then, the “practice” of medicine varies from physician to physician. The key is leading with data and always ensuring that you are devoted to the best outcomes for your patients. When good data and devotion are at the core of your medical decision making, it sets the foundation for trust and collaboration, and shared decision making with physicians.

Remember physicians are used to asking patients lots of questions. It is their job to elicit information, listen, and then come up with an individualized differential diagnosis and management plan. They often need to make a decision, even when not all the information can be available first. Take a step back and focus on your mutual objective of providing the best care for the patient. What you are encountering may or may not be a professional critique. Professionals with primary or specialty medical expertise and experience often dialogue and debate a best course of action, and do not always agree Medical expertise also differs from nursing expertise, for example Better to ask hard questions of a team than to have a medical error

Another clinician questioning one's medical diagnosis or decision making should not result in loss of self-confidence. Medicine is a humbling profession and none of us, at any level, get it right all the time. Such questioning is an opportunity to reassess, and to learn if there were additional questions that one could have asked. Feedback is a gift---and I strongly recommend that "questioning one's expertise" be viewed though the lens of feedback!