Merriam-Webster chose “authentic” as the 2023 word of the year. It seems like this word has been around much longer than 2023. It seems as though “authentic” was used to describe a nursing leader when I first started my nursing practice in the late 1980s, early 1990s. We were looking for a nursing leader who was “real.”

Now, with all the capabilities of computers and algorithms, we have all sorts of things to think about when we say “authentic.” Is this image real? Is this writing real? Is this leader real?

How about self? When you’re your own nurse, how do you know that you’re being honest, real, true to self? This is a reflection for the end of 2023 and the beginning of 2024. The New Year is always a 2-month window to think about where you are, who you are, and how you want to be in the world. Find your authentic self!

Amy E. Rettig, DNP, MALM, MSN, BSN, RN, ACNS-BC, PMHNP-BC, provides nursing care for both professional and non-professional caregivers. She presents, publishes and studies well-being (developing the caregiver within) from the perspectives of holism, caring relationships, and systems.