A Holistic, Tarot-Inspired Framework for Understanding and Mitigating Burnout in Nurses Through Self-Reflection

Area of Science:

• Nursing
• Occupational Health
• Psychology

Background:

• Nurse burnout is a significant global occupational hazard.
• It is characterized by emotional exhaustion, cynicism, and decreased quality of care.
• While often viewed as a nurse resilience issue, organizational factors like workload and leadership are key contributors.

Purpose of the Study:

• To introduce a holistic, tarot-informed framework for nurse self-reflection.
• To utilize the Rider-Waite tarot process and Celtic Cross structure for exploring burnout.
• To examine psychological, social, professional, and structural influences on nurses' burnout experiences.

Main Methods:

• A 10-card tarot spread based on the Celtic Cross structure was adapted.
• Card positions and symbolism were used as prompts for self-reflection.
• Tarot cards were optionally added for deeper symbolic exploration, not for divination.

Main Results:

• The framework facilitates meaning-making, mindfulness, and professional identity exploration.
• It offers a pathway to understanding and addressing nurse burnout.
• The process highlights the interconnectedness of individual and organizational factors.

Conclusions:

• Individual reflection using this framework can enhance nurse resilience and holistic insight.
• Sustainable change requires leadership accountability and organizational commitment to supportive work environments.
• Caring for nurses is integral to the core principle of human caring in nursing.