Keywords

authenticity, nurse, work life balance, professionalism, peer support, role enrichment, role theory

Abstract

Recently, I attended a conference in which the idea of nurses being their authentic selves (Watson 2012, p. 81) was discussed. In the weeks since the conference, I have reflected on this. There is currently no practical space made for this within nursing professional roles or workplace environments. The efficiency-driven performance metrics of healthcare frequently seem to prioritise productivity over human connections (Pullyblank 2023). Organisational expectations and demands often conflict with the application of authentic engagement and leadership, complicating nurses' efforts to maintain congruence between their personal and professional role identities (Travelbee 1966; Ulrich et al. 2022).

Original Publication Citation

Watson, A. L. (2025). Taking back the authentic nurse. Journal of Advanced Nursing, 81(10),6074-6075. https://doi.org/10.1111/ijtd.12338